What is a blackfoot common name?

Answer 1

we didn't name ourselves or our children the way European societies did. Therefore, there really isn't such a thing as a "common Blackfoot name" unless you're talking about contemporary names or contemporary surnames. Contemporary names that are popular to us are the same ones that are popular in the surrounding areas (depending on which Blackfoot reservation you're near as there are four). Contemporary surnames that are common include: Yellowoldperson, Tailfeathers, Running Crane, Guardipee, Kipp, LaFountaine, LaPlante, Smith, Wolfcollar, Crowfoot, etc.

A person usually had several personal names that people would call them. Sometimes as many as three, usually more if one was a warrior or someone of prominence. DO NOT use baby name books to look for Blackfoot (or any Native American) name! These books are wrong nine times out of ten as the writers don't usually do any cultural/linguistic research. I suggest you either get in touch with someone from our tribe or do your own research on the Blackfoot Confederacy/Blackfoot Nation to find your answers. Keep in mind that there are, like I said, four reservations and there are the same number of bands/subtribes: Siksika/Blackfoot Proper, Kanai/Many Chiefs/Blood, Northern Piegan/Pikuni/Peigan, all of Alberta, Canada and the Southern Piegan/Pikuni/Blackfeet of Montana.

Traditional names aren't picked on whims or fancies and are based on a person's behavior, one of their own ancestors, an event that happened to them or their families, a dream or a vision among other things. We DID NOT name people based on the first thing we saw when we came out of a teepee. I don't know how that particular stereotype got started, but it's silly and untrue.

Also, if you MUST use a baby name book, keep in mind that Native American names of ALL Native languages tend to be much longer than their English meanings. So if you see a four letter name and the name means something like "fawn that dances in the spring morning" or something equally as cheesey, you can be sure it's fake. Good luck.