Native American Dog Names
Published: Last updated: by Kyle J. LarsonWhen searching for a name, Native American dog names can be a beautiful and powerful choice. The dogs that lived in the Americas before they were colonized were thought to be much like wolves. The Hare Indian breed was even said to be like a domesticated coyote.
These dogs were used as work dogs for many tasks including hunting, herding, retrieving, guarding, and as sled dogs. Mexica nobles even kept an ancestor breed of the Chihuahua as pets. While most original breeds that lived in the Americas have largely been bred with colonial dogs, but some of their essence still remains.
These specific breeds are thought to still contain a small amount of the Native American dog genetics:
- Alaskan Malamute
- Labrador Husky
- Mackenzie River Husky
- Xoloitzcuintli
You may choose one of these names because of your Native American heritage, because your dog has wolf-like qualities, or simply because you’re looking for a unique name.
Note: if you want dog names from India try out our Indian dog names list.
Strong Native American Dog Names
- Micco – Chief (Seminole)
- Kitchi – Brave (Algonquin)
- Kuruk – Bear (Pawnee)
- Makwa – Bear (Algonquin)
- Nokosi – Bear (Seminole)
- Miwak – Growl of a Bear (Miwok)
- Kohana – Swift (Sioux)
- Kitchi – Brave (Algonquin)
- Yansa – Buffalo (Cherokee)
- Honi – Wolf (Arapaho)
- Maikoh – Wolf (Navajo)
- Yuma – Song of the Chief (Navajo)
- Hanska – Tall (Sioux)
- Wakanda – Possesses Magic (Sioux)
- Bly – Tall
- Eyota – Great
- Denali – Great One
- Nina – Strong
Cute Native American Dog Names
- Miki – Little (Inuit)
- Mansi – Plucked Flowers (Hopi)
- Tiva – Dance (Hopi)
- Nikan – My Friend (Potawatomi)
- Takoda – Friend to Everyone (Sioux)
- Sihu – Flower (Hopi)
- Alawa – Pea (Algonquin)
- Dakota – Friend (Sioux)
- Nova – Chases Butterfly (Hopi)
- Onida – The One Searched For (Sioux)
- Winona – Giving (Sioux)
- Kasa – Dressed in Furs (Hopi)
- Kanti – Sings (Algonquin)
- Kimi – Secret (Algonquin)
- Weeko – Pretty (Sioux)
- Kaya – Pure
- Mona – Noble One
- Una – One
Native American Dog Names from Nature
- Tallulah – Leaping Water (Choctaw)
- Ama – Water (Cherokee)
- Maka – Earth (Sioux)
- Kele – Sparrow (Hopi)
- Misu – Rippling Brook (Miwok)
- Koko – Night (Blackfoot)
- Lulu – Rabbit (Hopi)
- Kai – Willow Tree (Navajo)
- Pavita – Clear Water (Hopi)
- Yoki – Rain (Hopi)
- Mika – Intelligent Racoon
- Kinta – Deer (Potawatomi)
- Kiona – Brown Mountain
- Peta – Golden Eagle
- Tala – Wolf
Famous Native Americans
- Geronimo – Apache Leader
- Cochise – Apache Chief
- Pontiac – Ottawan Leader
- Tecumseh – Shawnee Leader
- Squanto – Saved the pilgrims
- Sacajawea – Accompanied Lewis & Clark
- Pocahontas – Native American woman who married an Englishman named John Rolfe
- Hiawatha – A great peacemaker and spiritual guide
- Crazy Horse – Lakota Leader who led a battle against General George Crook
- Sitting Bull – Lakota medicine man and holy man. Fought in the battle of Little Bighorn against Custer.
- Black Hawk – Saulk war chief who fought in the War of 1812
- Sequoiah – Invented a writing system know as the Cherokee Syllabry
Hopefully this list of Native American dog names has provided you with some inspiration! If you need more names try doing a dog name search.
Getting a New Dog?
28 Comments
hey,
love the names! very inspirational!
Any who, we are thinking about getting some dogs soon and would like some native american names for them! we are thinking about ether a jack russle Tarrier(sorry if i spelled that wrong!) or a blue heeler. thank you!
Thanks so much for this, exactly what I was searching for :-)
Amazing! I am writing a book, and this is perfect!
Same! my book is called The Guardian Pack :)
With me lives a four years old Labrador retriever. His name is Yuma. When he was born I was searching for a Native American name. The time I gave him this name I was told it means Son of the Chief or Son of the Leader. As I had already an older Labrador I thought it would be fine for both of them to give a name that had to do with each one. I wonder what is the correct translation. The one on this page or the one I was told. Anyway, it suits Yuma very well!
Just adopted a big… hybrid Wolf-Malamute.
I was always looking for these types of names thx so much!
I am working on a book as well and this is just what i am looking for!
@ Darlene Burton… you are so lucky I have always wanted a dog like that. What did you name your dog?
Love the list of names.
VERY helpful!
I’m writing a about and I’m searching for names like these, they help my story a great deal!
Thanks for the names :3
I’m writing a book and these names are very helpful.
this is so helpful im writing a novel called a secret under the canopy and i need some new names for the wolves in my novel these are perfect and the meanings help alot as well helps me fit the names to the personalitys this is so helpful! thank you guys :)
I just adopted a Love Bird. I am going to name him..Kanti. which means..sings. thank you for finding the perfect name for him.
Love these names, picked the right one for my heeler!
The Carolina Dog, sometimes called the Dixie Dingo, is the descendant of Native American dogs. It’s the only indigenous North American breed.
A stray puppy found us as we were traveling through the Navajo Nation at the state line between Colorado and Utah. Now we are searching for a name, as he’s going home with us. Any ideas? He looks to be a Australian Cattle Dog mix. Very uniquely colored.
Blue healers are awesome I have raised three super smart. The only thing I can tell you is they are healers so watch your heels. 🤣 Most Jack
Russell’s are very hiper
I just got 8 week old Belgian sherpard looking for good boy name good native name please anyone
I’m picking up my little girl in a couple weeks, she is a pomsky,and I have a long list of names. All of my dogs have had Indian names, just lost my baby Shawnee a few weeks ago and we had a Lakota, Matsi, Geronimo, Shaina, now this new little girl I have to find a name for
Some of the “famous native American people”is incorrect because it is a whitewashed version of history but the translation is good
If I had a female one I would name her Cheyenne. If I had a male one his name would be “Okemos” which is a city that’s a suburb of Lansing, Mich.
just got a new female bullie puppy for mothers day I cant decide on her name yet you gave me quit a list but here are my top 3 UNA / one YOKI / rain or PEARL / my grandmother
I have named all my dog from this site. Each one of them living up to their name. Thank you for keeping it up.
I just got a 16 week old pitbull puppy she is tan in color and I can’t think of a good name I am enrolled with the karuk tribe and would like to use a native name can you help me pick one out when I got her she was very sick and scared but she is really coming back to life any names you could come up with would be truly appreciated
Just got me a little runt female black lab, tiny tiny tiny…ABSOLUTLEY WONDERFUL! I’ve always gotten runts and love them…MIKI..Inuit for “little”. Last ol girl was MAKI, named for her kennel. I’ve been wracking my brain for days until this website and BAM!!! came easy.
THANK YOU INTERNET!!!
Going to name my friends puppy peta ..just cute … Thank you