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Home › Baby Names Directory › Sequoyah

Sequoyah

♀ Girl

Pronounced sih-KWOY-uh /sɪˈkwɔɪ.ə/Medium

Meaning: The name of Sequoyah, the Cherokee silversmith and scholar who devised the Cherokee syllabary in the early nineteenth century, giving his people a written language. The giant sequoia trees are named in his honor. The etymology of his own name is not securely established, and we do not invent one. He was a man, so the name leans strongly male, which we note.Low

In 30 seconds: Sequoyah honors the Cherokee scholar who created the Cherokee syllabary (said 'sih-KWOY-uh'). He was a man — the lean is male, which we note.
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Origin MediumCherokee
MeaningThe name of Sequoyah, the Cherokee silversmith and scholar who devised the Cherokee syllabary in the early nineteenth century, giving his people a written language. The giant sequoia trees are named in his honor. The etymology of his own name is not securely established, and we do not invent one. He was a man, so the name leans strongly male, which we note.
U.S. rank (2024)#14948 ↘ Falling
2024 U.S. births6 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)
Peak year1997
Total births (all-time)≈ 470

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 200419772024

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

Sequoyah was a Cherokee silversmith and scholar who, in the early nineteenth century, worked out a syllabary for the Cherokee language — a set of characters that let his people read and write their own tongue, and which spread with remarkable speed. The towering sequoia trees carry his name in tribute. The meaning of his own name is not securely documented, and we do not invent one. He was a man, and the name leans male, which we note honestly (said 'sih-KWOY-uh').

As a girl's name it appears only rarely in the U.S. Rare, honored, and tree-linked.

Did you know? Sequoyah gave the Cherokee people a written language, devising a syllabary of eighty-odd characters — one of the very few times in recorded history a person who could not read another script invented a writing system from scratch. The giant sequoia trees are named for him.
Overall data confidence 42%
References — Sequoyah — Sequoyah, Cherokee creator of the Cherokee syllabary; sequoia trees named in his honor; etymology of the name not securely established

Variations

SequoiaSekoyaSequoia

Nicknames

QuoyaSequi

Famous Bearers

  • Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Sequoyah…

Sequoia— the tree spelling of the same name
Cheyenne— a like name from Native American history
Willow— a like tree name for girls
Ayana— another Cherokee name
Ayanna— another Cherokee name

Explore names like Sequoyah

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Sequoyah mean?

Sequoyah is the name of the Cherokee scholar who created the Cherokee syllabary; the meaning of his own name is not securely documented, and we do not invent one.

How do you pronounce Sequoyah?

It's said sih-KWOY-uh /sɪˈkwɔɪ.ə/ — three beats, stress on the middle.

Is Sequoyah a boy or girl name?

Sequoyah was a man, and the name leans male; it is used here for a girl, which we note honestly.

How popular is Sequoyah?

Sequoyah is a very rare given name for girls in the U.S.

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