Given name
Hiawatha
“she who makes rivers”·“he who makes rivers”
Hiawatha is used as a given name. Interpretations include “she who makes rivers” (Native American) and “he who makes rivers” (Native American). These may reflect different naming traditions.
Meaning & origin
What it means
Interpretations include “she who makes rivers” (Native American) and “he who makes rivers” (Native American). These may reflect different naming traditions.
Where it comes from
An origin associated with this spelling is Native American.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1911. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Hiawatha through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 1,228
- 925 boys · 303 girls
- Most popular year
- 1934
- 31 babies
- 2025
- 0
- Outside the ranked list
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- —
- Too few births to compare
By the numbers
The most recent published U.S. birth count for boys is 5 in 2004. Later missing counts do not mean the name went unused. Its largest published annual count for boys was 26 in 1934. Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 498 as a first name in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Hiawatha’s family of names
Hiawatha has a related form in Hiawathah. Hiawatha has a related form in Hiwatha. Hiawatha has a related form in Hyawatha.
The ring: nicknames and forms.
Nicknames & forms 4
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
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If you love Hiawatha, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
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