Many places throughout North, Central, and South America take their names from the languages of the indigenous inhabitants of the area. The following list, organized by country, includes settlements, geographic features, and political subdivisions whose names are derived from indigenous languages.
Argentina
See list of Mapudungun placenames for the respective placenames in Argentina
Catamarca
Chubut Province
Curuzú Cuatiá
Machagai
Paraná
Puerto Iguazú
Quilmes
Tucumán Province
Ushuaia
Bolivia
Cochabamba
Copacabana
Guayaramerín
Oruro
Samaipata
Uyuni
Yacuíba
Brazil
Alagoas State
Arapiraca
Maceió
Ceará State
Iguatu
Maracanaú
Maranguape
Pacatuba
Minas Gerais State
Araxá
Paracatu
Pará State
Abaetetuba
Igarapé-Açu
Igarapé-Miri
Itaituba
Paraná State
Apucarana
Curitiba
Guarapuava
Paranaguá
Umuarama
Pernambuco State
Caruaru
Rio de Janeiro State
Araruama
Guanabara Bay
Niterói
Nova Iguaçu
Paraty
Piraí
Santa Catarina State
Itajai
São Paulo State
Araçariguama
Araçatuba
Araraquara
Araras
Caraguatatuba
Jaguariúna
Piracicaba
Ubatuba
Canada
Canada itself is a name derived from a Laurentian Iroquois word meaning "village" (c.f. Mohawk kaná:ta’). See Canada's name for more details. Aboriginal names are widespread in Canada - for a full listing see List of place names in Canada of aboriginal origin. Those listed here are only well-known, important or otherwise notable places.
Province and territory names
Ontario
Quebec - from Míkmaq kepék, "strait, narrows" Manitoba Saskatchewan Nunavut Yukon
British Columbia
NB Too many settlements, lakes, rivers, mountains and other items in British Columbia have indigenous names for all of them to be included here. Only major or relatively notable items are listed.
Regions
Chilcotin
Cariboo
Okanagan
Kootenay
Lillooet Country
Nicola Country
Stikine Country
Nechako Country
Cowichan Valley
Shuswap Country
Omineca Country
Atlin Country
Slocan Valley
Haida Gwaii
Cities and towns
Nanaimo
Chilliwack
Coquitlam
Squamish
Qualicum Beach
Saanich
Sooke
Ucluelet
Kitimat
Keremeos
Spuzzum
Bella Coola
Bella Bella
Kamloops
Sicamous
Osoyoos
Skookumchuck
Lillooet
Penticton
Kelowna and West Kelowna
Spallumcheen
Malakwa
Slocan City
Rivers and lakes
Chilcotin River
Chilko Lake, Chilko River, Taseko River
Omineca River
Kechika River
Lillooet River
Okanagan Lake & Okanagan River
Similkameen River
Skeena River
Nass River
Homathko River
Nechako River
Squamish River
Klinaklini River
Stikine River
Alsek River
Tatshenshini River
Tagish Lake
Atlin Lake
Taku River
Cheakamus River
Elaho River
Nimpkish River
Somass River
Mountain ranges
Shulaps Range
Cayoosh Range
Lillooet Ranges
Chilcotin Ranges
Stikine Ranges
Cassiar Mountains
Cariboo Mountains
Kitimat Ranges
Omineca Mountains
Muskwa Ranges
Alberta
Kananaskis
Athabasca
Wetaskiwin - from the Cree word wītaskīwin-ispatinaw (ᐑᑕᐢᑮᐏᐣ ᐃᐢᐸᑎᓇᐤ), meaning "the hills where peace was made".
Saskatchewan
Saskatoon - from Cree misāskwatōmin, "saskatoon berry."
Manitou Lake
Little Manitou Lake
Manitou | North American Indian religion
Manitoba
Winnipeg—a transcription of a western Cree word meaning "muddy waters" Manitoba -- "where the spirit (manitou) speaks"