Native American Heritage- girls names!

[newmum1508]

My first baby (a girl) is due October 1st!
We are SO stuck on her name.

I’m originally Native American. I was adopted from a native children’s home in Northern New York and came to England when I was 5. Although I don’t know my family, I’d still love to honour my heritage in her name as a first or middle name. Husband also agrees!

However, many native names are very difficult to pronounce so at the moment, most of the names on our list aren’t native inspired.

we currently like:

Lilian (Lily for short)
Vivian
Etta
Ember
Elowen (a little more unusual but love the sound and meaning)
Drew
Charlotte
Hallie
Addison

for Native American inspired names, we like
Dakota (but sounds quite harsh so maybe a middle name?)

Also like Sequoia which means sparrow but I feel like most people will just associate it with the tree.

I like vintage and timeless names and also sometimes like slightly whimsical?

Another top contender for a middle name is Janis. I know it’s a very dated name and may not sound the best to people but it’s after someone so important to us so we would love to honour her.

Sorry for the lengthy post! Any suggestions I’d love to know

Our surname is a VERY common English surname

Yes true. My dc used this for revision too

Talulah, joasha

You don't know anyone who says 'ate' as 'eight'? What? You've got that the wrong way round surely?
Ate and eight are pronounced exactly the same way.....I can't even imagine how you would say them differently.

Why not Seneca itself?
Sounds nice.

I love Elowen Janis

Look up Native American names for your tribe that mean Prairie Rose or other flowers that bring happiness and luck.

Selu
Neakita Janis
Selena Janis
Losi Janis
Rosemary Janis

Jenna? Based on Genossee.

Love Sequoia too

It seems that the Seneca tribe is split into a few different clans, each clan having their own symbol, such as deer, hawk etc.
If you could find out your family forebear's name, you could trace which clan your ancestors belonged to and use a name associated with their symbol.
It also seems that the Seneca lived near a lake and you could use a lake or water inspired name. Have you researched which landmarks featured in your native American family's homeland?

The only name I can find that is a Seneca name is Genessee/Genesee - meaning the beautiful valley.
(It sounds a bit like Janis)

I think Seneca is fine. It sound nice. Most people are likely to assume reference to the philosopher, but that’s OK. I don’t get the laxative jokes at all.

@Underlig , senna.

Yeah, and…?

I have second hand embarrassment at this poster ‘educating’ the OP who has Native American heritage

Sequoia is lovely