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Hakela

♂ Boy

Hakela Pronunciation

Hakela is pronounced hah-KAY-lah

Meaning: youngest child

In 30 seconds: Dakota birth-order name for the last-born son — a diminutive of Hake (fifth/last son), carrying a sense of tenderness for the youngest.

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Origin Dakota, Native American

Meaningyoungest child

History & Origin

Hakela belongs to the Dakota birth-order naming system, in which a child received an automatic name marking their place among siblings before any other name was given. For sons the sequence ran Caske (first), Hepan (second), Hepi (third), Catan (fourth), and Hake (fifth or last-born); the parallel sequence for daughters ended in Wihake. Hake also carries the general sense of 'the last.' Hakela adds the Dakota diminutive ending -la, giving the warm sense of 'the little last one.' The system was documented by missionary-linguist Stephen Return Riggs in his 19th-century grammar and dictionary of the Dakota language, foundational works still cited today.

Did you know? Dakota families historically gave automatic birth-order names: Caske for a first son, then Hepan, Hepi, Catan, and Hake for the fifth — Hakela is the affectionate diminutive of that last position.

Beginning Dakota — Minnesota Historical Society — Lists Dakota birth-order names: Caske, Hepan, Hepi, Catan, Hake (fifth/last son); Wihake for daughtersStephen Return Riggs — Dakota grammar and lexicon — 19th-century missionary-linguist who documented the Dakota language and birth-order naming system

If you like Hakela…

Chaska— Birth-order name for the firstborn son in the same Dakota/Lakota system

Chaske— Dakota birth-order name for the eldest son — the counterpart to Hakela the youngest

Angpetu— Dakota name meaning 'day,' from the same language and naming tradition

Waste— Core Dakota word and name documented in the same Riggs lexicon

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Frequently Asked

How do you pronounce Hakela?

Hakela is pronounced hah-KAY-lah. Press play above to hear Hakela said aloud.

How do you say Hakela?

Hakela is said hah-KAY-lah. Press play above to hear Hakela said aloud.

What does Hakela mean?

Hakela is a Dakota birth-order name for the last-born or youngest son. It is a diminutive of Hake, the automatic name given to a fifth or last-born son, so it carries the affectionate sense of 'the little last one.'

What culture is Hakela from?

Hakela comes from the Dakota (Sioux) tradition and its birth-order naming system, documented by the linguist Stephen Return Riggs in the 19th century.

Is Hakela a boy or girl name?

Hakela is a boy's name, marking the last-born son. The corresponding daughter's birth-order name for the last-born is Wihake.