Entry № 2088 · Hidatsa, Shoshone origin

Sacagawea Sacagawea — Meaning, Origin & Baby Name Popularity

/ sah-kah-gah-WEE-ah /
Gender
Girl
Origin
Hidatsa, Shoshone
Meaning
"Bird woman (Lewis & Clark Expedition guide)"
Syllables
5
Rank · US 2025
№ 0
First recorded
Modern (Hidatsa)

A name that means "bird woman (lewis & clark expedition guide)".

Sacagawea (Hidatsa *Tsakákawia*, "bird woman") was the **Lemhi Shoshone woman who, at approximately 16 and carrying her infant son, served as interpreter and guide to the Lewis and Clark Expedition** (1804-1806) on its journey from the Mandan villages to the Pacific Ocean and back. **Her presence and that of her newborn signaled the expedition's peaceful intent to every tribe they encountered** — Clark wrote that no party with a woman could be considered a war party. **She is depicted on the US Sacagawea dollar coin minted since 2000**, and has more statues across the United States than any other woman.

Subject of Anna Lee Waldo's *Sacajawea* (1979) and many history books.

Bird woman. Sixteen years old with a newborn, she guided Lewis and Clark to the Pacific.

The name in its native script.

Sacagawea
Transliteration
Sacagawea
Pronunciation
/ ˌsæk.ə.dʒəˈwiː.ə /
Root
Grammatical form

Where Sacagawea stands.

Current rank · 2025
№ 0 in the U.S.
All-time peak
№ 0 in 0
Babies named Sacagawea · last year
87 in the U.S.
First entered SSA top-1000
0
Rank, 1995–2025 Lower = more popular
№25 №75 №150 №250 1995 2005 2015 2020 2025 PEAK · — NOW · —

Sacagaweas before her.

Real people
Sacagawea
Shoshone interpreter and guide.
c. 1788 – 1812
In fiction
Sacagawea
Featured on the US Sacagawea dollar.
2000

Names connected to Sacagawea.

The number behind Sacagawea.

3

The Communicator

Sacagawea reduces to three — the number of Lewis and Clark's guide.

Why families chose this name.

"Lewis and Clark's bird woman. Nine letters. Sacagawea."
Catherine · Mother of one · Lemhi