The 200+ Best Native American Dog Names

Written by Kellianne Matthews
Published: January 12, 2024
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Choosing a Native American name for your dog is a wonderful way to honor the diverse traditions and rich heritage of these remarkable cultures, while also celebrating the unique qualities of your canine companion. However, it is crucial to conduct thorough research and show utmost respect for traditions and cultural significance. In this article, we have curated an extensive list of over 200 exceptional Native American dog names, each accompanied by its tribe of origin and the meaning behind the name.

Native American Dog Names That Mean “Dog” or “Wolf”

wolfdog standing on rock in woods

You can honor your dog’s ancestry and canine essence with a Native American name that means “dog” or “wolf”.

©mjurik/Shutterstock.com

  • Aluk: Dog paw (Inuttut)
  • Omitaa: Dog (Blackfoot)
  • MikKutuk: Fluffy dog (Inuttut)
  • Amaguk: Gray wolf (Inuttut)
  • Unavuk: Friendly dog (Inuttut)
  • Goshe: Dog (Apache)
  • Gitli: Dog (Cherokee)
  • Animosh: Dog (Ojibwe)
  • Inday: My dog (Ojibwe)
  • Animoons: Puppy (Ojibwe)
  • Atim: Dog (Cree)
  • Amaruq: Wolf (Inuktitut)
  • Numosh: Dog (Potawatomi)
  • Yawi: Dog (Yucuna)
  • Wahya: Wolf (Cherokee)
  • Chuku: Dog (Miwok)
  • Asakis: Dog (Pawnee)
  • Skiri: Wolf (Pawnee)
  • Ofi: Dog (Choctaw)
  • Nashoba: Wolf (Chickasaw and Choctaw)
  • Šunka: Dog (Dakota Sioux)
  • Pòoko: Dog (Hopi)
  • Watsida: Dog (Zuni)
  • Sabaaka: Dog (Aleut)
  • Kwewu: Wolf (Hopi)
  • Chichi: Dog (Nahuatl)
  • Tikaani: Wolf (Inuit)
  • Tala: Wolf (Iroquois)
  • Amarok: Wolf (Inuit)
  • Kimmik: Inuit Dog (Inuttut)

Native American Dog Names Inspired by Birds, Bees, and Butterflies

Cute dog with butterfly on his nose

Birds are important in many Native American cultures and often serve as messengers between humans and the Creator.

©miss_j/iStock via Getty Images

  • Aponi: Butterfly (Algonquin)
  • Momo: Bee (Hopi)
  • Kele: Sparrow hawk (Hopi)
  • Zitkala: Bird (Sioux)
  • Memengwaa: Butterfly (Ojibwe)
  • Opa: Owl (Chickasaw)
  • Fala: Crow or raven (Chickasaw)
  • Onacona: White owl (Cherokee)
  • Walela: Hummingbird (Cherokee)
  • Tulugaq: Raven (Inuktitut)
  • Tuku: Owl (Quechua)
  • Chosovi: Bluebird (Hopi)
  • Migisi: Eagle (Cheyenne)
  • Urpi: Pigeon or dove (Quechua)
  • Wama: Eagle or falcon (Quechua)
  • Kimimela: Butterfly (Sioux)
  • Mekaisto: Red crow (Siksika)
  • Wambli: Eagle (Sioux)
  • Apanii: Butterfly (Siksika)
  • Tahlako: Eagle (Choctaw)
  • Kamama: Butterfly (Cherokee)
  • Kutjuk: Swan (Inuttut)

Native American Dog Names Inspired by Other Animals

Cat dog and horse

You could choose a name that reflects the characteristics of your dog or even of other animals.

©Enna8982/Shutterstock.com

  • Yonv: Bear (Cherokee)
  • Yansa: Bison (Cherokee)
  • Wox: Bear (Arapaho)
  • Nooku: Rabbit (Arapaho)
  • Maskwa: Bear (Cree)
  • Mahkwa: Bear (Kickapoo)
  • Natáyo: Bobcat (Blackfoot)
  • Makwa: Bear (Ojibwe)
  • Issi: Deer (Choctaw)
  • Issoba: Horse (Choctaw)
  • Hoonaw: Bear (Hopi)
  • Awinita: Fawn (Cherkoee)
  • Suksi: Deer (Potawatomi)
  • Koshuké: Bison (Potawatomi)
  • Chakmool: Jaguar (Yucatec Maya)
  • Chuwen: Monkey (Yucatec Maya)
  • Chola: Fox (Chickasaw)
  • Chokfi: Rabbit (Chickasaw)
  • Tokala: Fox (Sioux)
  • Koni: Skunk (Chickasaw)
  • Zica: Squirrel (Dakota Sioux)
  • Toho: Cougar (Hopi)
  • Sequoyah: Hog or opossum (Cherokee)
  • Sakuna: Squirrel (Hopi)
  • Pahona: Beaver (Hopi)
  • Isi: Deer (Choctaw)
  • Kawayo: Horse (Hopi)
  • Bungu: Horse (Shoshone)
  • Balum: Jaguar (Itza Maya)
  • Kan: Snake (Itza Maya and Yucatec Maya)
  • Mashu: Bat (Quechua)
  • Katari: Snake (Quechua)
  • Taquka: Polar bear (Alutiq)
  • Kuruk: Bear (Pawnee)
  • Nokosi: Bear (Seminole)
  • Nanuq: Polar bear (Inukitut and Inupiaq)
  • Nektosha: Horse (Potawatomi)
  • Nita: Bear (Choctaw)
  • Mika: Raccoon (Sioux)
  • Inola: Black fox (Cherokee)
  • Tayanita: Young beaver (Cherokee)
  • Iqaluk: Fish (Inuktitut)
  • Tiriaq: Ermine or weasel (Inuktitut)
  • Amaru: Snake (Quechua)
  • Nawel: Jaguar (Mapuche)
  • Holata: Alligator (Seminole)
  • Omajuk: Animal (Inuttut)
  • Adlak: Black bear (Inuttut)

Nature-Inspired Native American Dog Names

Beautiful woman sitting contemplating her lovingly rescued dog.

If your dog loves the outdoors, then a name inspired by nature would be an excellent choice.

©daniromphoto/iStock via Getty Images

  • Ama: Water (Cherokee)
  • Atsina: Cedar (Cherokee)
  • Iya: Pumpkin (Cherokee)
  • Ennik: Starfish (Inuttut)
  • Misattak: Dandelion (Inuttut)
  • Killik: East (Inuttut)
  • MikKuk: Feather (Inuttut)
  • Tuvak: Firm winter ice (Inuttut)
  • Kannik: Snow (Inuttut)
  • Wapasha: Red leaf (Dakora)
  • Auwa: Water (Nottoway)
  • Tallulah: Leaping water (Choctaw)
  • Oka: Water (Choctaw)
  • Yaku: Water (Cuzco Quechua)
  • Shikoba: Feather (Choctaw)
  • Adsila: Fire, flower, or blossom (Cherokee)
  • Aki: Earth (Ojibwe)
  • Kai: Willow tree (Navajo)
  • Koko: Night (Algonquin)
  • Odina: Mountain (Algonquin)
  • Liwen: Morning (Mapuche)
  • Rayen: Flower (Mapuche)
  • Giiwedin: North (Ojibwe)
  • Ameyalli: Spring or fountain (Nahuatl)
  • Citlalli or Citlali: Star (Nahuatl)
  • Malinalli: Tall grass (Nahuatl)
  • Wayra: Wind or air (Quechua)
  • Ujaraq: Stone (Inuktitut)
  • Asin: Stone or rock (Ojibwe)
  • Majiw: Mountain (Ojibwe)

Sun and Moon Native American Dog Names

English setter dog at an outdoor meadow in the woods. dog at a park on a sunny day.

Dogs bring so much happiness and sunshine into the lives of their humans.

©Tanya Consaul Photography/Shutterstock.com

  • Inti: Sun (Quechua)
  • Agali: Sunshine (Cherokee)
  • Iraluq: Moon (Yupik)
  • Hanwi: Moon (Dakota Sioux)
  • Siginiq: Sun (Inuktitut)
  • Taqqiq: Moon (Inuktitut)
  • Inya: Sun (Quechan (Yuma))
  • Metztli or Meztli: Moon (Nahuatl)
  • Tonalli: Day; the warmth of the sun (Nahuatl)
  • Jaci: Moon (Tupi)
  • Shandiin: Sunshine (Navajo)
  • Tavaci: Sun (Ute)
  • Taawa: Sun (Hopi)
  • Keri: Moon (Yucuna)
  • Aheeta: Sun (Nottoway)
  • Watu: Sun (Southern Sierra Miwok)
  • Sakuru: Sun (Pawnee)

Native American Dog Names from Numbers

Three friendly happy playing dogs in summer park. German shepherd, american staffordshire terrier and french bulldog holding one stick. Different dog breeds have fun together.

If you have multiple dogs, you could give each a name to denote their number.

©Marina Vedernikova/iStock via Getty Images

  • Tekeni / Tékeni: Two (Mohawk and Oneida)
  • Ahsen: Three (Mohawk)
  • Kayeri: Four (Mohawk)
  • Tuklo: Two (Choctaw)
  • Chaffa: One (Chickasaw)
  • Toklo: Two (Chickasaw)
  • Oshta: Four (Chickasaw)
  • Wanzi: One (Dakora Sioux)
  • Nonpa: Two (Dakora Sioux)
  • Yamni: Three (Dakora Sioux)
  • Topa: Four (Dakora Sioux)
  • Malluk: Two (Yupik)
  • Duba: Four (Omaha-Ponca)
  • Masaka: Five (Central Miwok)
  • Otiko: Two (Southern Sierra Miwok)
  • Tolokot: Three (Southern Sierra Miwok)

Colorful Native American Dog Names

Portrait of a Great Pyrenees dog outdoors with colorful autumn leaves

Another option is to choose a name based on the color of your dog’s fur.

©Mary Swift/Shutterstock.com

  • Umi: Black (Oaxaca Chontal)
  • Humma: Red (Choctaw)
  • Lusa: Black (Choctaw)
  • Chäk: Red (Itza Maya)
  • Ya’ax: Green and Blue (Itza Maya)
  • Chukwa: Brown (Yucatec Maya)
  • Hamalk: White (Quechan (Yuma))
  • Aqisk: Yellow (Quechan (Yuma))
  • Nilk: Black (Quechan (Yuma))
  • Sapa: Black (Dakota Sioux)
  • Ska: White (Dakota Sioux)
  • Xota: Gray (Dakota Sioux)
  • Duta: Red (Dakota Sioux)
  • Zigi: Orange (Dakota Sioux)
  • Puka: Red (Quechua)
  • Yana: Black (Quechua)
  • Unega: White (Cherokee)
  • Shilowa: Red (Zuni)
  • Yuraq: White (Quechua)
  • Makade: Black or dark (Ojibwe)
  • Ozaawi: Brown or yellow (Ojibwe)
  • Misko: Red (Ojibwe)

Cute Native American Dog Names 

Cute white scottish terrier puppy is walking on a green grass and looking at the camera. Pet animals.

Pay attention to your dog’s unique qualities and personality to help you choose the perfect name.

©SergeyTikhomirov/iStock via Getty Images

  • Asiri: Smile (Quechua)
  • Taloowa: Sing (Chickasaw)
  • Koda: Friend (Dakota Sioux)
  • Tani: Daughter (Cree)
  • Zazil: Clear, light, clarity (Mayan)
  • Misun: Little brother (Lakota Sioux)
  • Nizhoni: Beautiful (Navajo)
  • Tatik: Faith (Inuttut)
  • Inuppak: Giant (Inuttut)
  • Tusak: Hear (Inuttut)
  • Koku: Hot chocolate / Hot cocoa (Inuttut)
  • Wayna: Young boy (Quechua)
  • Chaska: Firstborn son (Sioux)
  • Tashina: Blanket (Sioux)
  • Awee: Baby (Navajo)
  • Iina: Life (Navajo)
  • Yatzil: Love, mercy, charity (Yucatec Maya)
  • Ayelen: Laughing, clear, ember (Mapuche)
  • ​​Ayün: Love (Mapuche)
  • Pullak: Bubble (Inuttut)
  • Iara: Lady of the water (Tupi)
  • Ixchel: Rainbow lady (Maya)
  • Miski: Honey (Quechua)
  • Tuta: Night (Quechua)
  • Nina: Fire (Quechua and Aymara)
  • Umik: Beard (Inuttut)
  • Manidoo: A spirit or god
  • Jiibay: A spirit or ghost

Strong Native American Dog Names

Cane Corso

A strong dog name can help reflect your dog’s loyalty and fortitude.

©Dioniya/Shutterstock.com

  • Tupaq: Royal or noble (Quechua)
  • Winona: First daughter (Sioux)
  • Yuma: Chief’s son (Quechan)
  • Majuk: Climb (Inuttut)
  • Akicita: Warrior (Sioux)
  • Bira: Lord of the spear (Tupi)
  • Ubirajara: Lord of the Spear (Tupi)
  • Tangwaci: Man (Ute)
  • Mamaci: Woman (Ute)
  • Dezba: Going raiding (Navajo)
  • Apa: Man (Quechan (Yuma))
  • Nanabah: Returning warrior (Navajo)
  • Aakwaadizi: One who is fierce (Ojibwe)
  • Newen: Force, strength (Mapuche)
  • ​​Mashkawizii: One who is strong
  • Ishkode: Fire (Ojibwe)

The photo featured at the top of this post is © mjurik/Shutterstock.com

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About the Author

Kellianne Matthews is a writer at A-Z Animals where her primary focus is on anthrozoology, conservation, human-animal relationships, and animal behavior. Kellianne has been writing and researching animals for over ten years and has decades of hands-on experience working with a variety of different animals. She holds a Master’s Degree from Brigham Young University, which she earned in 2017. A resident of Utah, Kellianne enjoys creating, exploring and learning new things, analyzing movies, caring for animals, and playing with her cats.

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