Sophia Girl
soh-FEE-uh
“wisdom” · Greek
#5
Cheyenne
GirlNative American· “from the name of the Cheyenne people”
- Meaning
- from the name of the Cheyenne people
- Origin
- Native American
- Pronunciation
- shy-AN
- Syllables
- 2
- US rank 2025
- #920
- US babies 2025
- 285
- Best rank
- #68 (1996)
- Peak year
- 1996
Meaning and origin of Cheyenne
Cheyenne is a Native American name that is usually said to mean “from the name of the Cheyenne people”.
Cheyenne comes from the name of the Cheyenne people, a Plains nation now living mainly in Montana and Oklahoma. The name reached English through French from a Dakota word, often explained as meaning something like people of foreign speech, though the Cheyenne call themselves by a different name in their own language. The capital city of Wyoming also bears the name. As a given name Cheyenne carries associations with the American West, wide landscapes and cowboy culture. It has a soft, flowing sound, and spellings such as Shyanne and Chayenne are used as well.
Popularity over time
Cheyenne first appears in US Social Security records in 1946. It has ranked in the top 1,000 in 46 different years, starting in 1980. Its best national rank was #68 in 1996, the same year it reached its highest count of 4,866 babies. In 2025, 285 babies were named Cheyenne, and it ranked #920 nationally. That is 70% fewer than ten years earlier, so it is becoming less common.
Its national rank moved from #3,254 in 1950, #871 in 1980, #99 in 2000, #229 in 2010, and #920 in 2025. Of the 70,732 US girls named Cheyenne since records began, 45% were born in the 1990s, its biggest decade. The 2000s come next, with 23,910 babies. Since 2010, 11,599 more have been named Cheyenne.
Other girls' names that peaked around the same time include Breanna, Mariah, Sabrina, Selena, and Miranda.
Where it is most popular (2025)
In 2025, Cheyenne ranked highest in Oregon, Utah, and Oklahoma.
Gender, sound and spelling
About 99% of US babies named Cheyenne over the last 20 years were girls, with a small share of boys.
Cheyenne is usually pronounced shy-AN, with two syllables. It has eight letters, starts with C and ends in “-ne”.
Middle names for Cheyenne
A few middle names that flow with Cheyenne: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Cheyenne
Similar names
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shy-AN
“from the name of the Cheyenne people” · Native American
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Lists that include Cheyenne
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Cheyenne mean?
Cheyenne is a Native American name that is usually said to mean “from the name of the Cheyenne people”.
What is the origin of the name Cheyenne?
Cheyenne has Native American roots. Cheyenne comes from the name of the Cheyenne people, a Plains nation now living mainly in Montana and Oklahoma.
Is Cheyenne a popular name?
Yes. Cheyenne ranked #920 in the US in 2025, which makes it in the top 1,000.
Is Cheyenne a boy or girl name?
Cheyenne is mainly a girl's name. About 99% of US babies named Cheyenne over the last 20 years were girls, with a small share of boys.
How do you pronounce Cheyenne?
Cheyenne is usually pronounced shy-AN. Stressed syllables are in capital letters.
Popularity figures come from US Social Security card applications (names given to at least five babies in a year, 1880 to 2025). How we source names and meanings