Hiawatha
Hiawatha is a boy's name of Indigenous American origin.
Meaning
He who makes rivers (or he who combs/tracks).
Origin and history
Hiawatha is a name of Iroquoian origin, traditionally associated with the legendary Native American leader who helped establish the Haudenosaunee Confederacy. It gained widespread cultural familiarity in the United States through Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's 1855 poem, The Song of Hiawatha. Although historically significant, it remains rare as a given name in modern U.S. birth records.
Popularity in the United States
925 babies in the United States have been named Hiawatha since 1880. It ranks #3753 all-time.
States where it is most popular
- TX (44.7 %)
- AL (28.9 %)
- NC (13.2 %)
- VA (13.2 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 0 |
| 1890-1900 | 0 |
| 1900-1910 | 0 |
| 1910-1920 | 107 |
| 1920-1930 | 161 |
| 1930-1940 | 158 |
| 1940-1950 | 142 |
| 1950-1960 | 146 |
| 1960-1970 | 91 |
| 1970-1980 | 69 |
| 1980-1990 | 46 |
| 1990-2000 | 0 |
| 2000-2010 | 5 |
| 2010-2019 | 0 |
| 2020-2029 | 0 |
Fun facts
- Longfellow's 1855 epic poem made the name widely recognized in American popular culture, though it conflated different Native American traditions.
- The original Hiawatha was an Iroquois leader believed to have lived in the 16th century.