At one time there were many kinds of Native American dogs such as the Tahltan Bear Dog, the Hare Indian Dog, the Salish Wool Dog, and the Rez (reservation) Dog. Dogs such as the Inuit Sled Dog (Canadian Eskimo dog), the Greenland Dog, and the Alaskan Malamute are all thought to share a common origin. A dingo-like dog called the Carolina Dog, which still exists, is also believed to be pre-European. Chihuahuas also have some ancient DNA that links them to the ancient Techichi, a companion dog favored by the Toltecs in Mexico.
Of these Native American dogs, the Chihuahua, Xoloitzcintli, Peruvian Perro Sin Pelo, Greenland Dog, Canadian Eskimo Dog, Alaskan Malamute and the Carolina Dog remain today.
Native Americans used dogs for many of the tasks that Europeans used horses and pack animals to perform such as hauling, carrying, and pulling things.
There are many good Native American names for dogs. Here are some that we like.
Strong Native American dog names
- Bly – Tall
- Denali – Great One
- Eyota – Great
- Hanska – Tall (Sioux)
- Honi – Wolf (Arapaho)
- Kitchi – Brave (Algonquin)
- Kitchi – Brave (Algonquin)
- Kohana – Swift (Sioux)
- Kuruk – Bear (Pawnee)
- Maikoh – Wolf (Navajo)
- Makwa – Bear (Algonquin)
- Micco – Chief (Seminole)
- Miwak – Growl of a Bear (Miwok)
- Nina – Strong
- Nokosi – Bear (Seminole)
- Wakanda – Possesses Magic (Sioux)
- Yansa – Buffalo (Cherokee)
- Yuma – Song of the Chief (Navajo)
Cute Native American dog names
- Alawa – Pea (Algonquin)
- Dakota – Friend (Sioux)
- Kanti – Sings (Algonquin)
- Kasa – Dressed in Furs (Hopi)
- Kaya – Pure
- Kimi – Secret (Algonquin)
- Mansi – Plucked Flowers (Hopi)
- Miki – Little (Inuit)
- Mona – Noble One
- Nikan – My Friend (Potawatomi)
- Nova – Chases Butterfly (Hopi)
- Onida – The One Searched For (Sioux)
- Sihu – Flower (Hopi)
- Takoda – Friend to Everyone (Sioux)
- Tiva – Dance (Hopi)
- Una – One
- Weeko – Pretty (Sioux)
- Winona – Giving (Sioux)
Native American dog names taken from nature
- Ama – Water (Cherokee)
- Kai – Willow Tree (Navajo)
- Kele – Sparrow (Hopi)
- Kinta – Deer (Potawatomi)
- Kiona – Brown Mountain
- Koko – Night (Blackfoot)
- Lulu – Rabbit (Hopi)
- Maka – Earth (Sioux)
- Mika – Intelligent Racoon
- Misu – Rippling Brook (Miwok)
- Pavita – Clear Water (Hopi)
- Peta – Golden Eagle
- Tala – Wolf
- Tallulah – Leaping Water (Choctaw)
- Yoki – Rain (Hopi)
Famous Native Americans
- Black Hawk – Saulk war chief who fought in the War of 1812
- Cochise – Apache Chief
- Crazy Horse – Lakota Leader who led a battle against General George Crook
- Geronimo – Apache Leader
- Hiawatha – A great peacemaker and spiritual guide
- Pocahontas – Native American woman who married an Englishman named John Rolfe
- Pontiac – Ottawan Leader
- Sacajawea – Accompanied Lewis & Clark
- Sequoiah – Invented a writing system know as the Cherokee Syllabry
- Sitting Bull – Lakota medicine man and holy man. Fought in the battle of Little Bighorn against Custer.
- Squanto – Saved the pilgrims
- Tecumseh – Shawnee Leader
There are many beautiful, evocative Native American names. If you have a dog from a Native American breed or if you are simply drawn to Native American cultures, see if one of these names appeals to you. You might find a spiritual link to the native peoples.
