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Home › Baby Names Directory › Nakoda

Nakoda

♂ Boy

Pronounced nah-KOH-dah /nɑˈkoʊ.dɑ/Medium

Meaning: From the Nakoda (Assiniboine/Stoney), 'an ally; a friend; the people' (a Siouan people related to the Dakota/Nakota); a people/word-name; we note the people-nameLow

In 30 seconds: An ally; a friend; the people: Nakoda is Assiniboine/Stoney. Lyrical, evocative, and warm (said 'nah-KOH-dah').
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Origin LowAssiniboine
MeaningFrom the Nakoda (Assiniboine/Stoney), 'an ally; a friend; the people' (a Siouan people related to the Dakota/Nakota); a people/word-name; we note the people-name
U.S. rank (2024)#8112 ↗ Rising
2024 U.S. births10 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)
Peak year2024
Total births (all-time)≈ 80

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 202420032024

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Nakoda comes from the Nakoda (Assiniboine/Stoney), 'an ally; a friend; the people' (a Siouan people related to the Dakota/Nakota; a people/word-name; we note the people-name). A lyrical, evocative name (said 'nah-KOH-dah').

In the U.S. it appears in Native American families. Rare, an-ally-and-friend at the root, and evocative.

Did you know? Nakoda means 'an ally; a friend; the people' in the Nakoda (Assiniboine/Stoney) — a Siouan people related to the Dakota — a lyrical, evocative people/word-name (we note the people-name; said 'nah-KOH-dah').
Overall data confidence 34%
References — Nakoda — people-name noted

Variations

NakotaNakodah

Nicknames

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Famous Bearers

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If you like Nakoda…

Lakota— a fellow Siouan people-name
Cheyenne— a companion Native-people name
Nekoda— shares the -da ending
Nevada— lands in the same popularity range
Dakoda— lands in the same popularity range

Explore names like Nakoda

By themeuncertainnative-americanethnonym

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Nakoda mean?

Nakoda is Assiniboine/Stoney for 'an ally; a friend; the people'. We note the people-name.

How do you pronounce Nakoda?

It's said nah-KOH-dah /nɑˈkoʊ.dɑ/ — three syllables, stress on the second.

Is Nakoda a boy or girl name?

Nakoda is a boy's name here.

How popular is Nakoda?

Nakoda is a very rare name in the U.S.

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