This list includes 25 Native American girl names that start with S, from “Sah-nee” to “Šiná”. They span many tribes and meanings and help parents and writers find meaningful options. Use these names respectfully and consider tribal context.
Native American girl names that start with S are personal names used by diverse Indigenous communities across North America. Many carry meanings tied to nature, family, or virtues, reflecting each community’s language and values.
Below you’ll find the table with [COLUMN_NAMES].
Name: The name as recorded, shown in its original spelling so you can review exact forms and variants.
Pronunciation: A simple phonetic guide showing how to say the name, so you can speak it respectfully and accurately.
Meaning: A concise translation or explanation of the name’s sense, giving you context about its literal or symbolic meaning.
Origin: The tribal or linguistic origin listed so you know the community or language associated with each name.
Notes: Short notes on usage, regional variants, or cultural context that help you understand appropriate application.
Source: A brief citation or reference so you can check the original record or follow up for more detail.
Native American girl names that start with S
| Name | Pronunciation | Meaning | Tribe/Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sakakawea | sah-KAH-kah-WAY-ah | Bird Woman (disputed) | Hidatsa |
| Salali | sah-LAH-lee | Squirrel | Cherokee (ᏣᎳᎩ) |
| Shikoba | shih-KOH-bah | Feather | Choctaw (Chahta’) |
| Shima | shih-MAH | Mother | Navajo (Diné Bizaad) |
| Sihu | SEE-hoo | Flower | Hopi |
| Siyo | SEE-yoh | Prairie Chicken, Grouse | Lakota (Lakȟótiyapi) |
| Siwuknima | see-woo-KNEE-mah | Standing Up from the Ground | Hopi |
| Shádí | shah-DEE | Older Sister | Navajo (Diné Bizaad) |
| Sani | SAH-nee | The Old One | Navajo (Diné Bizaad) |
| Sinti | SIN-tee | Snake | Choctaw (Chahta’) |
| Satehoronies | sah-deh-ho-ROH-nees | She Makes the Grass Green | Mohawk (Kanien’kéha) |
| Soyala | soh-YAH-lah | Winter Solstice Time | Hopi |
| Shumana | shoo-MAH-nah | Rattlesnake Girl | Hopi |
| Sali | SAH-lee | Persimmon | Alabama (Albaamo innaaɬiilka) |
| Snana | SNAH-nah | Jingles like a bell | Lakota (Lakȟótiyapi) |
| Sah-nee | SAH-nee | The Old One | Apache (Ndee) |
| Sipsis | SIP-sis | Little Bird | Penobscot (Panawahpskewi) |
| So’e | SOH-eh | Singing | Cheyenne (Tsitsistas) |
| Sialuk | see-AH-look | Thin Ice, Sleet | Inuit (Inuktitut) |
| Satinka | sah-TINK-ah | Magic Dancer | Source disputed, often appears on lists |
| Skena | SKEH-nah | Dove | Powhatan (reconstructed) |
| Šiná | she-NAH | Shawl | Lakota (Lakȟótiyapi) |
| Sequoyah | seh-KWOY-ah | Sparrow (disputed) | Cherokee (ᏣᎳᎩ) |
| Sunki | SOON-kee | To catch up to | Omaha-Ponca |
| So-ah-ka | so-AH-kah | Swift | Crow (Apsáalooke) |
Descriptions
Sakakawea
The name of the famous Shoshone guide on the Lewis and Clark expedition. Hidatsa origin is most supported by linguists, though other origins are claimed. (linguistics.si.edu)
Salali
A sweet, nature-based name from the Cherokee language. It’s an accessible and gentle-sounding name, directly translating to the animal. (Feeling 1975)
Shikoba
From the Choctaw word for feather. This name evokes a sense of lightness and connection to birds, which hold cultural significance. (Byington 1915)
Shima
A term of deep love and respect in the Navajo language, meaning ‘my mother’. As a given name, it carries profound familial significance. (Young & Morgan 1987)
Sihu
A simple and beautiful name from the Hopi language, directly translating to ‘flower’ or ‘blossom’. It is often used as part of longer, more descriptive names. (Hopi Dictionary Project 1998)
Siyo
A nature name from the Lakota language. Prairie chickens are known for their distinctive and beautiful courtship dances, imbuing the name with a sense of grace.
Siwuknima
A Hopi girl’s name with a beautiful meaning of growth and emergence. It suggests the strength of a plant sprouting from the earth. (Hopi Dictionary Project 1998)
Shádí
In Navajo culture, kinship terms carry deep importance. Using ‘Shádí’ as a name evokes a sense of family, responsibility, and love. (Young & Morgan 1987)
Sani
While it translates to ‘old one’, in Navajo thought this conveys wisdom, experience, and respect, not decrepitude. It is a name of honor. (Young & Morgan 1987)
Sinti
In Choctaw cosmology, the Horned Serpent is a powerful being associated with water. This name connects to deep cultural narratives, representing power and transformation. (Byington 1915)
Satehoronies
A beautiful Mohawk name reflecting a deep connection to nature’s cycles and the power to bring life and renewal to the earth.
Soyala
The name of the sacred Hopi winter solstice ceremony. It’s a time of prayer, renewal, and turning back the sun, carrying deep spiritual significance. (Hopi Dictionary Project 1998)
Shumana
A name from the Hopi language. Snakes are powerful beings in Hopi cosmology, not symbols of evil, representing transformation and connection to the underworld. (Stephen 1936)
Sali
A sweet and simple name from the Alabama language, referring to the native persimmon fruit. It’s a nature-based name with a pleasant sound. (Sylestine et al. 1993)
Snana
From a word meaning to jingle or ring. This name evokes the healing sound of the jingle dress, which is significant in powwow dancing. (LLC 2008)
Sah-nee
An Apache name conveying respect and wisdom. Like the related Navajo name Sani, it is an honorific term used as a given name for a cherished child.
Sipsis
A sweet name from the Penobscot language, an Eastern Algonquian tongue. It is a term of endearment, perfect for a beloved child. (Siebert 1996)
So’e
A beautiful name element from the Cheyenne language derived from the verb ‘to sing’. It can be used alone or as part of a longer, descriptive name. (Leman 2011)
Sialuk
An evocative name from the Arctic, describing a specific weather condition. Inuit names often reflect a deep connection to the land and its nuances.
Satinka
This name is widely listed online but its origin is unclear and may be a modern invention. It is included here due to its popularity, but should be used with caution.
Skena
A name from the reconstructed Powhatan language. The dove is a symbol of peace and gentleness. The name’s use is modern, based on linguistic work. (Rountree 2005)
Šiná
A simple, elegant Lakota name meaning shawl. Shawls are important cultural items for women, used in daily life and in dances, symbolizing warmth and embrace. (LLC 2008)
Sequoyah
Though famously the name of the male creator of the Cherokee syllabary, it is now used as a unisex name. The meaning is debated by linguists. (Mooney 1891)
Sunki
From the verb meaning ‘to catch up with’ or ‘overtake’. This name can imply a wish for the child to achieve and succeed in life. (Fletcher & La Flesche 1911)
So-ah-ka
A name meaning ‘swift’ or ‘fast’. It reflects a quality valued in Crow culture, suggesting agility and quick thinking. This is a historical name element.