Many places throughout the United States take their names from the languages of the indigenous Native American/American Indian tribes. The following list includes settlements, geographic features, and political subdivisions whose names are derived from these languages.
State names
Alabama – named for the Alibamu, a tribe whose name derives from a Choctaw phrase meaning "thicket-clearers" or "plant-cutters" (from albah, "(medicinal) plants", and amo, "to clear"). Alaska – from the Aleut phrase alaxsxaq, meaning "the object towards which the action of the sea is directed"). Arizona – disputed origin; likely from the O'odham phrase ali ṣona-g, meaning "having a little spring". Arkansas – from the Illinois rendering of the tribal autonym kką:ze (see Kansas, below), which the Miami and Illinois used to refer to the Quapaw. Connecticut – from some Eastern Algonquian language of southern New England (perhaps Mahican), meaning "at the long tidal river" (after the Connecticut River). Idaho – may be from Plains Apache ídaahę́, "enemy", used to refer to the Comanches, or it may have been an invented word. Illinois – from the French rendering of an Algonquian (perhaps Miami) word apparently meaning "s/he speaks normally" (c.f. Miami ilenweewa), from Proto-Algonquian *elen-, "ordinary" + -wē, "to speak", referring to the Illiniwek. Iowa – from Dakota ayúxba or ayuxwe, via French Aiouez. Kansas – from the autonym kką:ze. Kentucky – from an Iroquoian word meaning "at the meadow" or "on the prairie" (c.f. Seneca gëdá’geh , "at the field"). Massachusetts – from an Algonquian language of southern New England, and apparently means "near the small big mountain", usually identified as Great Blue Hill on the border of Milton and Canton, Massachusetts (c.f. the Narragansett name Massachusêuck). Michigan – from the Ottawa phrase mishigami, meaning "large water" or "large lake".". Minnesota – from the Dakota phrase mni-sota, meaning "turbid water". Mississippi – from an Algonquian language, probably Ojibwe, meaning "big river" (Ojibwe misiziibi). Missouri – named for the Missouri tribe, whose name comes from Illinois mihsoori, "dugout canoe". Nebraska – from the Chiwere phrase ñįbraske, meaning "flattened water". New Mexico – the name "Mexico" comes from Nahuatl Mēxihco, of unknown derivation. North Dakota and South Dakota – dakhóta comes from the Sioux word for "friend" or "ally". Ohio – from Seneca ohi:yo’, "beautiful river". Oklahoma – invented by Chief Allen Wright as a rough translation of "Indian Territory"; in Choctaw, okla means "people", "tribe", or "nation", and homa- means "red", thus: "Red people". Tennessee – derived from the name of a Cherokee village, Tanasi, whose etymology is unknown. Texas – from the Caddo phrase táyshaʔ, meaning "friend". Utah – from a language of one of the Ute tribe's neighbors, such as Western Apache yúdah, "high up". Wisconsin – originally "Mescousing", from an Algonquian language, though the source and meaning is not entirely clear; most likely from the Miami word Meskonsing meaning "it lies red" (c.f. Ojibwe miskosin). Wyoming – from the Munsee Delaware phrase xwé:wamənk, meaning "at the big river flat".
Alabama
Alaska
Arizona
Arkansas
California
Colorado
Connecticut
Delaware
Settlements
Appoquinimink Hundred
Hockessin
Minquadale
Naamans Gardens – named after a Minqua chief who befriended the settlers of New Sweden. Naamans Creek Wawaset Park Wyoming – from the Munsee Delaware phrase xwé:wamənk, meaning "at the big river flat".
District of Columbia
Settlements
Anacostia – from the Piscataway name Anakwashtank, meaning 'a place of traders'. Originally the name of a village of the Piscataway tribe on the Anacostia River. Also rendered as Nacochtank or Nacostine. Takoma – originally the name of Mount Rainier, from Lushootseed (earlier ), 'snow-covered mountain'. The location on the boundary of DC and Maryland was named Takoma in 1883 by DC resident Ida Summy, who believed it to mean 'high up' or 'near heaven'.
Bodies of water
Potomac River – from the Piscataway language or from a northern dialect of Virginia Algonquian, original form patawomek, meaning 'they bring it' (for trading).