74 Inuit Baby Names With Meanings

Just like every other culture and religion, naming is extremely important for the Inuit people. But what sets Inuit people apart is the fact that they name their children after body parts. For instance, baby name Taqtu, means ‘kidney’, Putuguq means ‘big toe’, and Shin means ‘lower part of the leg’. They even take inspiration from celestial bodies, for example, Siqiniq, which means ‘sun’, Taqqiq, which means moon, and Nanurjuk, which means ‘Betelgeuse star in the Orion constellation’.

Inuit people are strict followers of animism, which explains their love for spiritual names, such as Nuliajuk, which means a ‘woman with a fin, who is the leader of all the seals in the sea’, Ijiraq, which means ‘caribou like spirit’, and Nanurluk, which is the name of a mythical, large polar bear.

Inuit people even name their children after parents, grandparents, ancestors, or anyone they respect. They believe that the purpose of naming children after people they love is to ensure that the person lives on, even after death. It’s their way of keeping the memories alive. Also, Inuit elders do not call the grandchildren by names. They refer to them as irnngutaq, which means ‘grandchild’.

Now that MomJunction has acquainted you with a small, but important part of Inuit naming customs and conventions, let’s proceed to the baby name list below. We’ve handpicked the best and unconventional Inuit baby names for you.