Nickname help!
We want to name our baby Penelope but we can’t decide on a nickname? Help!
Inuit baby names evoke power and poignance ‒ the majesty of Alaska, Canada, and Greenland. On the hunt for the perfect Alaskan names for your little iñuk? Read on…
Did you know that the language of the Inuit people is called Inuktitut? And that the word “inuit” actually means “people” in Inuktitut?
Whether you’re new to learning about native Alaskan names or you’re looking for Inuktitut names to honor your Inuit heritage, we’ve put together a mega-list of 201 Inuit baby names and meanings for you to peruse.
A quick word before we start: In this article, you’ll find that we don’t refer to “Eskimo baby names”, because this is a word that the Inuit people don’t use to describe themselves. Instead, the term “eskimo” was used as a derogatory term to describe Inuit people by non-native colonizers. Initially, the Algonquian word “eskimo” wasn’t a slur ‒ the word describes someone who eats raw meat ‒ an implicit way of (wrongfully) calling Inuits barbarians.
In this article: 📝
- What are some Inuit girl names?
- What are some Inuit boy names?
- What are some gender-neutral Inuit names?
- What are some badass Inuit baby names?
What are some Inuit girl names?
When it comes to Native Alaskan baby girl names, Inuktitut certainly doesn’t disappoint!
From Inuit girl names after goddesses to common Inuit names for girls like Kaya, you’re sure to find the perfect names from our list of 63 Inuit girls’ names:
- A’akuluujjusi: The Inuit goddess who gave life to animals using her clothing.
- Ahnah: Meaning “wise woman”.
- Akinitsivuk: Meaning “echo”.
- Akna: The Inuit goddess of fertility and childbirth.
- Alasie: Meaning “honest and noble”.
- Amka: Meaning “friendly spirit”.
- Angajuk: Meaning “girl’s older sister”.
- Anguak: Meaning “amulet”.
- Anjij: Meaning “grace”, the Inuit version of Anne.
- Anniagruk: Meaning “asked for”.
- Aninnik: Meaning “breath”.
- Apaay: Meaning “sweet”.
- Aqakuktuq: Meaning “fish catcher”.
- Arnaaluk: Meaning “female sea spirit”.
- Arnakuagsak: The Inuit goddess of the sea hunters.
- Arnaq: Meaning “girl”.
- Asiaq: The Inuit goddess of weather.
- Ataksak: The Inuit goddess of the sky.
- Atiqtalik: Meaning “polar bear mother”.
- Atuat: Meaning “clear sky”.
- Availuk: Meaning “sweet”.
- Elisapee or Elisapie: Meaning “my God is an oath”.
- Higalik: Meaning “ice house”.
- Hitty or Hiti: Meaning “hyena”.
- Ijaujak: Meaning “diamond”. 💎
- Ila: Meaning “companion”.
- Ilannaq: Meaning “friend”
- Iqaluk: Meaning “fish”. 🐟
- Isapoinhkyaki: Meaning “singing crow woman”.
- Jissika: Meaning “rich”. The Inuit version of Jessica.
- Katsitsanóron: Meaning “precious flower”.
- Kaya: Meaning “mountain”. ⛰️
- Kireama or Kirima: Meaning “hill”.
- Liuna: Meaning “lion”. The Inuit version of Leona.
- Lusa: Meaning “midnight”.
- Malina: The Inuit goddess of the sun.
- Meriwa: Meaning “thorn”.
- Najak: Meaning “sister of a boy”.
- Nauja: Meaning “seagull”.
- Niviatsiak: Meaning “girl”.
- Nuliajuk: Meaning “woman with a fin”.
- Ookpik: Meaning “snowy owl”.
- Panik: Meaning “daughter”.
- Panikpak: Meaning “youngest daughter”.
- Piguttuk: Meaning “flower”. 🌼
- Pinga: The Inuit goddess of the hunt, fertility, and medicine.
- Pukkeenegak: The Inuit goddess of domesticity.
- Qailertetang: The Inuit weather spirit and guardian of animals.
- Sagalikitak: Meaning “butterfly”. 🦋
- Sakari: Meaning “sweet”.
- Sedna: The Inuit goddess of sea animals.
- Sinnatomak: Meaning “dream” or “dreaming”.
- Siuppuk: Meaning “singing bird”.
- Suluk: Meaning “feather”.
- Suusan: Meaning “lily”. The Inuit version of Susanna.
- Tapeesa: Meaning “Arctic flower”.
- Taqqiq: The Inuit word for “moon”. 🌙
- Taupek: Meaning “dove”.
- Ticasuk: Meaning “one with treasure” or “wise one”.
- Tonngaviak: Meaning “butterfly”.
- Tootega: The Inuit goddess who walked on water.
- Uki: Meaning “survivor”.
- Ulu: Meaning “woman’s knife”.
What are some Inuit boy names?
Now for some steadfast, strong Inuit boy names. Browse our 37 native Alaskan boy names and meanings:
- Amaqjuaq: Meaning “strong one”.
- Anik: Meaning “brother of a girl”.
- Apaata: Meaning “father”.
- Atuqtuaq: Meaning “singer”. 🎵
- Hanta: Meaning “hunter”.
- Igaluk: The Inuit god of the moon.
- Innik: Meaning “son”.
- Inuksuk: Meaning “on the right path”.
- Juatan: Meaning “to flow down”. The Inuit version of Jordan.
- Katjuk: Meaning “arrow”.
- Kitunngak: Meaning “child”.
- Muktuk: Meaning “whale blubber”.
- Nanook: The Inuit god of the polar bears
- Nootaikok: The Inuit god of icebergs.
- Nukak: Meaning “younger brother of a boy”.
- Nukappiak: Meaning “boy”.
- Pana: The Inuit god of the underworld.
- Panuk: Meaning “island”.
- Petuwaq: Meaning “perfect”.
- Pilip: Meaning “lover of horses”. The Inuit version of Philip.
- Siku: Meaning “ice”.
- Silla: The Inuit god of the sky.
- Sugusik: Meaning “child”.
- Tarkik: Meaning “moon”.
- Tekkeitsertok: The Inuit god of hunting and caribou.
- Tiguaak or Tiguak: Meaning “adopted child”.
- Tiqriganiannig: Meaning “Arctic fox”.
- Toklo: Meaning “spontaneous” and “versatile”.
- Tonraq: Meaning “tiny man”.
- Torngarsuk: The Inuit god of the sky.
- Tsarlis: Meaning “free man”. The Inuit version of Charles.
- Tulimaq: Meaning “rib”.
- Tulugaak: Meaning “like a raven” or “creator of light”.
- Ujurak or Ujarak: Meaning “rock”.
- Yoskolo: Meaning “breaking off sugar-pine cones”.
- Yotimo: Meaning “jacket used to carry meat from the house to the nest”.
- Yutu: meaning “to claw”.
What are some gender-neutral Inuit names?
Traditionally speaking, the Inuit people of Alaska, Greenland, and Canada don’t view gender in the same way as we typically do in the English-speaking world. In fact, most Inuit first names don’t have assigned genders.
Whether you’re after the Inuit name for “bear”, Inuit word for “moon”, or more common Inuit names, we’ve got you covered with 91 gender-neutral Inuit names.
- Adlartok: Meaning “clear sky”.
- Aguta: Meaning “gatherer of the dead”.
- Akiak: The Inuit word for “brave”.
- Aklaq: The Inuit name for “bear”. 🐻
- AKumik or UKumik: Meaning “go with the wind”.
- Alornerk: Meaning “under-feet”.
- Amaruq: One of the Inuit names for “wolf” ‒ specifically, “giant wolf”.
- Angakkuk: Meaning “sorcerer”.
- Aput: Meaning “snow”.
- Aqillutaq: Meaning “new snow”.
- Atanarjuat: Meaning “strong one”.
- Atiqtalaaq: The Inuit name for “polar bear cub”.
- Atka: Meaning “guardian spirit”.
- Aupaluttak: Meaning “red”.
- Cupun: Meaning “coal”.
- Igutsak: Meaning “bee”. 🐝
- Ikiaq: Meaning “red spruce”.
- Ilannâk: Meaning “friendly person”.
- Imiq: Meaning “water”.
- Iñuk: Meaning “human being”.
- Irdlirvirisissong: Meaning “demon cousin of the moon”.
- Kajuk: Meaning “red fox”.
- Kanaaq: Meaning “lower part of the leg”.
- Kanguq: Meaning “snow goose”.
- Kanut: Meaning “white goose”.
- Kayuqtuq: Meaning “red fox”. 🦊
- Kinngap: Meaning “mountain”.
- Kissimi: Meaning “alone”.
- Koko: Meaning “night”.
- Kuak: Meaning “frozen”.
- Kuvianak: Meaning “joy”.
- Magguliak: Meaning “twin”.
- Makoktok: Meaning “young”.
- Miki: Meaning “small”.
- Nalligik: Meaning “love”.
- NâmmaKik: Meaning “come at the right time”.
- Nanouk: The Inuit name for “polar bear”.
- Nanurjuk: Meaning “star”. ⭐
- Napâttuk: Meaning “tree”.
- Natsiq: Meaning “seal”.
- Nukadlipâk: Meaning “youngest child”.
- Nunatsuak: Meaning “world”.
- Nungusuittuk: Meaning “everlasting”.
- Nukilik: Meaning “one who is strong”.
- Okauyak: Meaning “shrub”.
- Pakak: Meaning “one who gets into everything”.
- Pamiuq: Meaning “dog with no tail”.
- Pesi: Meaning “bean”.
- Pinngutitsinik: Meaning “creation”.
- Pitseolak: Meaning “sea pigeon”.
- Pittusigak: Meaning “lynx”.
- Putjuk: Meaning “rise”.
- Qannik: Meaning “snowflake”. ❄️
- Qaumaniq: Meaning “enlightening knowledge”.
- Qimmiq: Meaning “dog”.
- Saunâk: Meaning “peanut” (of course!). 🥜
- Sesi: Meaning “snow”.
- Siqiniq: Meaning “sun”.
- Sila: The Inuit spirit of the air.
- Silatsuak: Meaning “universe”.
- Silatujuk: Meaning “wise”.
- Sivullik: Meaning “first”.
- Suagutak: Meaning “rain shower”. 🌧️
- Sumâvuk: Meaning “constant”.
- Tagiuk: Meaning “sea”.
- Taktuq: Meaning “mist” or “fog”.
- Takutsuapuk: Meaning “kind”.
- Taliriktug: Meaning “strong arm”. 💪
- Tamât: Meaning “always”.
- Tamannuk: Meaning “both of us”.
- Taqtu: Meaning “kidney”.
- Tarniq: The Inuit word for “spirit”.
- Tatik: Meaning “love”.
- Tâttuk: Meaning “dark”.
- Tehoronianhen: Meaning “covered in clouds”.
- Tigiganniak: Meaning “fox”.
- Tillirnannqittuq: Meaning “unexpected”.
- Tukkuttok: Meaning “generous”.
- Tuktu: Meaning “caribou”.
- Tulugaq: Meaning “raven”.
- Tutsiak: Meaning “sing”.
- Tuumaq: The Inuit word for “spirit” or “soul”.
- Ukiatsâk: Meaning “autumn”.
- Ukiuk: Meaning “winter”.
- Ullugiak: Meaning “star”.
- Umiaktorvi: Meaning “river”.
- Unnuaq: Meaning “night”.
- Upinngasâk: Meaning “spring”.
- Uukkarnit: Meaning “carved ice”.
- Yuka: Meaning “bright star”.
- Yura: Meaning “beautiful one”.
What are some badass Inuit baby names?
How about edgier Inuit baby names for your little warrior? Here are our top ten badass Inuit names:
- Ikumak: Meaning “fire”. 🔥
- Kallik: Meaning “lightning”. 🌩️
- Kallu: Meaning “thunder”.
- Katjiktuk: Meaning “bald eagle”. 🦅
- Nattugalik: Meaning “golden eagle”.
- Pâkuk: Meaning “fighter”.
- Sunnguvuk: Meaning “becomes strong”.
- Tikaani: One of the Inuit names for “wolf”. 🐺
- Tulok: Meaning “warrior”. Also the Inuit god of the stars.
- Unatattik: Meaning “soldier”.
That’s it ‒ over 200 beautiful and bold Inuit baby names for your little iñuk!
Share your favorites with the rest of our mamas-to-be on Peanut!
👶 More baby names:
50 Old Fashioned Baby Names
57 Gender-Neutral Baby Names
Twin Baby Names: 60 Ideas for Naming Twins
138 Nature Baby Names
138 Unisex Baby Names
100+ Uncommon Baby Names & Their Meanings
100+ Baby Names That Mean Peace
218 Beautiful Exotic Baby Name
100+ Virtue Baby Names (and Names That Mean Virtue)
100 Meaningful Mongolian Baby Names
1,500 Most Popular Baby Names of 2021 on Peanut