Cherokee names, as with other Native American appellations, celebrate a connection to the natural world. Cherokee girl names are no exception with so many of them honoring the beauty of nature. Unlike other Native American names, Cherokee names are more often singular in concept than the compound names like Running River or Flying Butterfly that you’ll find among other languages and naming traditions.
Despite being the most authentic of American names they rarely rank on the baby name popularity charts today. Even though these appellations are not used often, they make beautiful options to celebrate your heritage and to pass it down to the next generation. Let’s take a look at some Cherokee girl names for inspiration.
Get Inspired by These Cherokee Girl Names!
Yona
Yona, sometimes spelled Yonah, is a Cherokee name for girls that means “bear.” This is a completely accessible appellation that sounds as beautiful as its meaning.
Adsila
Adsila is pronounced ahd-SEE-la. It’s one of the gorgeous Cherokee girl names with a botanical meaning in “blossom.”
Euna
Euna is one of the evocative Cherokee girl names that means “waterfall.” Again, we find such a beautiful meaning associated with a stunning name.
Gola
Pronounced GOH-lah, Gola could be the perfect name for a winter baby. The appellation means “winter.”
Ahyoka
One of the Cherokee girl names with a meaning that’s impossibly stunning is Ahyoka which means “she brought happiness.” The appellation is pronounced ah-YOH-ka.
Walela
In the Cherokee tradition, hummingbirds were once considered healing entities that came to the aid of those in a medical crisis. Walela is a name that means “hummingbird.”
Kamama
To pronounce this name correctly, put the emphasis on the second syllable. Kamama is a percussive and beautiful option among these wonderful Cherokee girl names. It means “butterfly.” What’s not to love?
Agasga
Pronounced ah-GAHS-ga, this is one of the Cherokee girl names that’s perfect for a baby born on a stormy day. This name means “rain.”
Awinita
Awinita means “fawn.” This delicate yet strong appellation is pronounced ah-wee-NEE-ta, with the emphasis put on the third syllable.
Guwisti
Pronounced goo-wee-stee, Guwisti is one of the Cherokee girl names that holds a lot of symbolism. The name means “sieve” which symbolizes women and regeneration in Cherokee culture.
Noya
Noya is a Cherokee name that means “sand.” Curiously, it’s also an extremely popular Hebrew name in Israel that means “beauty.” It’s a multi-cultural name with an excellent meaning no matter how you translate it.
Salali
To correctly pronounce this Cherokee name, put emphasis on the second syllable, LAH. This playful-sounding name has a fun meaning to match in “squirrel.”
Atsila
Pronounced aht-SEE-la, Atsila is a warm choice for a baby girl as this name means “fire.”
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Hiawassee
Hiawassee comes from ayuhwasi, a Cherokee word that means “meadow.” The generous name is considered to mean “large meadow.”
Sasa
Another one of the extremely accessible Cherokee girl names, Sasa is pronounced SAH-sa. The name means “goose.”
Usdi
Pronounced OOS-dee, Usdi is such a darling Cherkoo name for girls. It means “baby.” How precious is that!
Woya
Cherokee girl names really do have some of the most rewarding meanings out there. Woya is pronounced WOAH-ya and it means “dove.”
Galilahi
Galilahi is a great Cherokee name that might trip some people up but it’s totally worth it. The name is pronounced GAH-lee-LAH-hee which sounds especially lyrical to us. This appellation means “attractive.”
Ama
Ama is a Cherokee name for girls that means “water” or “water master.” Naming records in the US were first recorded in 1880. Ama was a popular choice back then ranking in the top 1000 from 1881-1885.
Inola
Pronounced with a long “E,” Inola is a Cherkoo name for girls that means “black fox.” It’s related to two other Cherokee names, both for boys: Inali and Enoli.
Immokalee
Again, pronounced with a long “E,” Immokalee is such a peaceful-sounding name. Its meaning is equally evocative, meaning “tumbling water.”
Unega
Unega is pronounced oo-NAY-gah. It’s one of the Cherokee girl names that refers to a color. It means “white.”
Tsula
Another one of the Cherokee girl names that might be mispronounced, Tsula is pronounced JEW-la. The TS is pronounced as a “J.” This attractive name means “fox.”
Tayanita
Always remember that the letter “A” is pronounced as ah in Cherokee and the pronunciation of names will be much easier. Tayanita is pronounced TAH-yah-NEE-tah with emphasis on the first and third syllables. This handsome name means “young beaver.”
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Citlali
Pronounced sit-LAH-lee, Citlali is one of the dreamiest Cherokee girl names as it means “star.”
There you go! We hope you found these Cherokee girl names as beautiful and resonant as we did. If you have Cherokee heritage you can celebrate it with a name that’s been used by tribes for generations. We wish you the best of luck on your baby name search!
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