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Comments and insights on the name Cheyenne

The Cheyenne are a Native American nation that once inhabited the area between the Missouri and Arkansas rivers in the Great Plains, but as time went on, the Cheyenne people were eventually pushed more northwest (Montana, Wyoming and the Dakotas).

The word “Cheyenne” is French Canadian, originating from Sioux Dakota word “šahíyena” meaning “speak incoherently” from the elements “ša” (red) and “ya” (speak). The Dakotas considered their own Sioux-based language clear and understandable (i.e., “white talkers”); but the Algonquian-based language of the Cheyenne was unintelligible and alien sounding (hence “red talkers”).

In recent years, there have been many variations of the spelling of the name for use as a personal name. However, as a personal name derived from a proper name (Native American tribe), it may be best to spell Cheyenne correctly or you run the risk of looking silly, tacky, and/or disrespectful. It would be akin to spelling Dakota "DaKotah", Cherokee "Chairakee", and Shawnee "Shannie".

Personal experiences with the name Cheyenne

sometimes, people ask me if I'm part of the Indian tribe, Cheyenne, and I think that's really cool because I am part Native American but not the Cheyenne part. I also have been asked if I lived in Cheyenne,Wyoming, but I don't. I spell my name differently from the Indian tribe, though with an "S" instead of a "C" ~Sheyenne~
I love my name, but no one spells it correctly, sometimes they even totally fail :-P ~Cheyenne~

Nicknames for Cheyenne

Chey, Anne, Annie, Cece

Meanings and history of the name Cheyenne

The word “Cheyenne” is French Canadian, originating from Sioux Dakota word “šahíyena” meaning “speak incoherently” from the elements “ša” (red) and “ya” (speak). The Dakotas considered their own Sioux-based language clear and understandable (i.e., “white talkers”); but the Algonquian-based language of the Cheyenne was unintelligible and alien sounding (hence “red talkers”).

Famous real-life people named Cheyenne

Cheyenne Kimball, an American singer
Cheyenne Beck, Glenn Beck's daughter
Cheyenne Genevieve Robinson (b. 2009), daughter of American musician Chris Robinson

Cheyenne in song, story & screen

Cheyenne Montgomery - Reba's Daughter in Reba (TV Series)
Cheyenne - Jason Derulo (Song)
Cheyenne - ABC (TV Series)
Cheyenne Lee, a character on NBC’s Superstore.