40 Horse Names Drawn from Native American Mythology

Selecting a name for a horse can be done in numerous ways. If you are Native American or own an American breed, bestowing a name tied to Native traditions can serve as a meaningful tribute to your or your horse's American roots.

These names are drawn from a variety of Native mythologies and may be fitting for a Mustang, Quarter Horse, Appaloosa, American Paint, or another American breed. They are organized into seven groups:

Categories of Native American Horse Names

1. Creator Gods
2. Culture Heroes
3. Teacher Gods
4. Monster Gods
5. Nature Spirits
6. Transformer Gods
7. Trickster Gods

Related: The Easiest Way to Get a Horse to Come to You When Called

This beautiful Appaloosa is ready for a Native American name.

Names from Creator Gods

In Native American traditions, creator gods are responsible for making worlds and life, and for nurturing and safeguarding the earth. They hold a central place in every Native American belief system.

1. Ahone

Ahone is the creator god of the Powhatan tribe, sometimes called the Creator, and is viewed as a force for good. After Christian missionaries came, Ahone was incorporated into the Christian faith. This name could suit a noble or kind horse.

2. Isha

This god, also called Esa, belongs to the Shoshone, Bannock, and Northern Paiute tribes. Esa/Isha is a serene deity who occasionally rescues his brother Coyote from trouble. The name may fit a calm, dependable horse.

3–4. Kame and Keri

Kame and Keri are the two creator gods of the Bakairi tribe. These brothers made the world suitable for humans and showed them how to create fire and hunt. Either name could suit a horse that appears wise and helpful.

5. Raweno

Raweno is the creator god of the Huron and Mohawk tribes, a benevolent guardian. His name means “great ruler” or “great voice.” It might fit a horse destined to lead, one that brings calm, or one that is very vocal.

6. Tamuchi

Tamuchi is the creator god of the Carib tribe. This ancient figure is said to have never been seen by humans. The name could work for a black horse or a mottled one that blends into its surroundings.

7. Wakanda

Wakanda is the creator god of the Omaha, Osage, and Ponca tribes, a vague figure without gender. The name also appears in the movie Black Panther, a separate mythology, but it might still inspire you. It could suit a gentle horse of either sex that leads quietly, or a strong, dark horse that would protect its owner fiercely.

Related: 20 Fiery-Red Names for Chestnut Horses

Perhaps this Pinto could make a good Raweno or Wakanda.

Names from Teacher Gods

8. Jamul

Jamul is the Achumawi Coyote god. This Coyote is less mischievous than most but still finds trouble. Nevertheless, Jamul helped people obtain fire and advance. The name might suit a playful horse that is good at heart and makes friends easily.

9. Kipitaki

Kipitaki is a hero from the Blackfoot tribe, known as the Old Lady and married to Napi, the Old Man. She teaches people new things and is often helpful, but she can also be a trickster or troublemaker. This name could suit various mares.

Since Kipitaki can be a trickster, the name might fit a more wily mare, but because she also taught humans, it could also work for a kind, easygoing mare that occasionally teaches you something.

10–11. Kujuri and Mopo

Kujuri and Mopo belong to the Apalai and Wayana tribes. These two gods created the world and taught people how to live in it. The names could work as twin names, or for horses that are calm and seem to always understand what is going on.

12. Menilly

Menilly is a moon goddess from the Cahuilla tribe who taught civilization to humans. This name might suit a gray, moon-colored mare or one with a particularly demure, polite personality.

Related: 25 Names for Your Horse From Norse Mythology

Names from Culture Heroes

13. Raven

Raven comes from the Inuit people of the Far North. Raven can help transform lives and the world, but he also gets into trouble, causing tricks and enjoying the results. Raven could work for a black horse, or for one that loves to play or is skilled at solving problems.

14. Shiok

Shiok is a wandering hero and an Alsea trickster. He entered the ocean and battled a whale before returning as a great slayer of monsters. Such a strong name would suit a sturdy horse, one you could imagine fighting monsters for you if needed.

15. Silver Fox

Silver Fox is a female creator heroine from Northern Californian tribes. She helped create the world and taught people how to survive in it. This name would be wonderful for a gray mare of any kind, especially one with a bold spirit.

16. Whiskey-Jack

Whiskey-Jack is a Cree culture hero, a trickster who often gets into funny adventures. He never harms humans; he only causes mischief and is a true friend to humanity. This name could suit any male horse with a silly or mischievous personality.

Related: 20 Legendary Names for Horses From Greek Mythology

This Quarter Horse is acting like Whiskey-Jack.

interest.com/pin/444097213227846887/

Names from Monster Gods

17. Asin

Asin is an ogress from the Alsea tribe who ate children. Parents would invoke her name to make children behave. She was linked to huckleberries, so no one in the tribe ate them. Asin could be a good name for any horse, especially if you want a secretly intimidating name. You could also name your horse Huckleberry as a nod to this ogress.

18. Caddaja

The Caddo tribe brings the Caddaja, a horrific horned ogre or snake, depending on the legend. The Caddaja preyed on humans in every version. This name could serve almost any formidable-looking horse. You might also consider using the Caddo tribe name for a horse.

19. Manetoa

This Algonquian creature is a giant underwater snake that eats humans and has horns and armored scales. The only thing Manetoa fears is thunder. This name could work for many horses, particularly one with a mottled or Appaloosa pattern or one afraid of thunder.

20. Stonecoat

Stonecoats are rock giants, mythological creatures twice the size of humans and covered in rocky scales. They are beings of winter and ice. This name would suit a strong horse with a gray coat.

21. Uktena

This Cherokee creature is a horned serpent. Uktena was formed when a human tried to assassinate the sun. Because of this, Uktena might be a good name for a palomino, chestnut, or light bay horse, or a Paint or Appaloosa with underlying golden-brown coloration.

22. Windigo

Anishinabe mythology brings us the Windigo. This man-eating creature is huge and coated with ice. Windigo would make an interesting name for a very large, light-colored horse.

Related: 15 Names for Horses From Chinese Mythology

This powerful Appaloosa could make a good Caddaja.

interest.com/pin/125045327139158931/

Names from Nature Spirits

23. Canotina

The Canotina forest spirits are from the Sioux tribes. They were little tree-dwelling gods that gave messages to the Sioux. This name could work for a smaller mare, particularly one with a coat that reminds you of trees or leaves.

24. Chenoo

Chenoo ice giants from Wabanaki legends are human eaters. This name would work well for a large, pale horse.

25. Culloo

This creature was a giant bird of prey, so big it could carry a human child to its nest to eat. Culloo could work for many horses, but maybe especially a larger horse, probably darker in coloration, or a paint or Appaloosa that reminds you of the mixed coloration of wings.

26. Pomola

Pomola is a bird spirit from Penobscot folklore associated with cold, wind, storms, and night. Pomola was a very powerful god that humans stayed away from. This name could work for any horse whose coloration fits cold, wind, storms, or night. The name could also be good for any powerful mare or horse with long, feathered hair on the mane, tail, or other areas.

27. Sasquatch

The Sasquatch is generally found in many Native American mythologies. It is a large, hairy creature that is generally kind and does not attack humans. This name could work for a number of large male horses, particularly shaggier ones. Large, gentle horses would also work well for this name.

28. Stoneclad

The Stoneclad monster is either a human with special abilities who wears a stone suit, or a being of stone. This creature can only be defeated by special magical talismans or, interestingly, menstruating women. This name would be good for a strong male horse, perhaps of a gray color.

29. Thunderbird

The Thunderbird is found throughout much of Native American mythology. Supposedly, the Thunderbird was so big it could carry away a whale in its claws. Thunderbirds were also responsible for making the sound of thunder. This name could work for a number of strong American horses, particularly those that like to gallop with a strong, thundery sound.

Related: 15 Astronomy and Space Names for Horses

This Rocky Mountain gelding would be a great horse to name Stoneclad.

interest.com/pin/125045327139158987/

Names from Transformer Gods

30. Coyote

On the West Coast, the Northern Basin, and further south, Coyote is seen as a great trickster and transformer but also one who cares a lot about humankind. Coyote brought fire to humanity, taught civilization, and brought other important knowledge to humans. So, although he enjoys playing tricks, Coyote is generally considered a benevolent god. This name could be good for a playful, spirited horse.

31. Nianthaw

The spider spirit Nianthaw comes from the Arapaho tribe. The name can be pronounced Ni-AN-thaw or Ni-AN-saw. Sometimes, this spirit can be a positive transformer, helping humans, but often the spider enjoys tricking humans to their detriment. The name could work for a horse that likes to occasionally try to dump its rider on the ground or step on their foot but is generally a pretty good-natured horse.

32. Sibu

Sibu is less of a trickster than most. Sibu is a transformer who created the earth and tried to help people use it and adapt to it to have a better life. This name would work well for any horse with a sweet nature.

33. Wanderer

This Alsea character is a wanderer also named Seuku or Shiok. It is a transformer god who was turned into a whale for a long time before returning to the earth to slay monsters. This name could work for a horse that likes to wander, of course, but it could also work for a horse with a brave personality who is willing to stand up to dangers or perceived threats.

34. Wisaka

Wisaka is the transformer god of the Algonquian people of the plains. Wisaka is a friend to humans, even if he likes to tease them sometimes. Many Algonquian myths show Wisaka creating the human race in one of many ways. This name could work for a number of horses, particularly one you see as a really good friend or one you expect to become one.

Related: 15 Big, Powerful Horse Names

This palomino could make a good Wisaka.

Names from Trickster Gods

35. Azeban

This god is often portrayed as a raccoon. Azeban is never considered malevolent. He plays benign tricks to have fun with people. This name could work for a silly horse that likes to stick his tongue out at people or engage in other silly activities.

36. Bluejay

This trickster god appears in Chinook and other Northwest tribe lore. Bluejay likes to help people but tends to get in trouble all the time. This name could work for a horse that is good-natured, but things just keep happening to him, like getting his head stuck in a barn door or otherwise finding himself in an awkward position.

37. Crazy Jack

This human-looking trickster is known for his laziness and foolish nature. Crazy Jack rarely gets in serious danger, but when he does, he gets out of it with a combination of good luck and innate wisdom. This name could work for any horse that is lazy or goofy in nature, particularly one that never seems to get in trouble, even though you think that he would.

38. Mink

Mink is a Northwest trickster god. Unlike many trickster gods, Mink doesn’t generally help humans. Although there are a lot of humorous stories about Mink, the deity can be reckless and arrogant. This name could be good for a proud, boisterous horse, or it could also work for a beautiful, dark, mink-colored horse.

39. Napi

Napi is considered the Old Man in the Blackfoot tribe. He shaped the world, but he is still considered a cantankerous creature that can cause a bit of trouble for people. Napi gets help from Kipitaki, or Old Woman. The two are considered the first man and woman of the tribe. Napi (and Kipitaki) could be good names for older horses that have come into your lives. The names could also work for horses with a bit of an attitude or who have a certain kind of crafty wisdom.

40. Rabbit

The Rabbit is a trickster from Southeastern Native American tribes. This creature is very happy-go-lucky and does not engage in mean tricks. Mythology says Rabbit brought fire to the Southeastern Native American people. He often makes inappropriate mistakes, but they are always innocent, and he gets along well with children. This name might work well for a pony, particularly one with a rabbit-colored coat.

Related: How Long Can Horses Live?

Palominos engaged in godly combat

Why Choose a Native American Name for Your Horse?

Native American horse names often differ from the names we commonly see given to horses and ponies. For one thing, horses are sacred to many Native American tribes. The Dakota view horses as equal to humans, the Lakota believe horses were given to them by the Wakíŋyaŋ (Thunder Beings), and for the Comanche, horses became central to their way of life.

Therefore, for Native American horse owners, investing your horse’s name with spiritual meaning is part of your cultural heritage. If you want more Native American inspiration, one of the books I used in writing this article was Spirits of the Earth: A Guide to Native American Symbols, Stories, and Ceremonies.

Up Next:

© 2018 Teeuwynn Woodruff

Comments

moose on April 07, 2020:

I love this name

– Bing on September 26, 2019:

403 Forbidden

Savanna on April 18, 2019:

I named my horse named 16 the 16th name that was on the this page I like this because my horse when I first got it is very wild and my family. Thought that is made out of stone or Steel so why not