Coyote is a distinctive and intriguing male given name with an origin deeply rooted in Native American culture. It originates from the Nahuatl language, which was spoken by several indigenous peoples of Mexico, including the Aztecs. In Nahuatl, "coyotl" means "trickster," reflecting the mischievous nature of the animal it refers to.
The coyote is a revered figure in many Native American cultures due to its cleverness and adaptability. As such, Coyote became an important figure in folklore and mythology, often depicted as a trickster god or cultural hero. In some stories, Coyote uses his intelligence to outsmart enemies, while in others, he plays practical jokes on unsuspecting victims.
The name Coyote was popularized by the legendary frontiersman and scout, Kit Carson (1809-1868), who had a dog named "Old Yeller" that was often referred to as "Coyote." Although there is no evidence to suggest that Kit Carson named his dog after the animal or the Native American stories, the name has since become synonymous with him.
Today, Coyote continues to be used as a given name among many different cultures. It may carry connotations of mischief, cleverness, and adaptability due to its origins in Native American folklore. However, it is essential to remember that the name's meaning should not overshadow or diminish the rich cultural heritage and traditions from which it emerged.
Coyote is an uncommon yet intriguing name that has seen a fluctuating trend in popularity over the past few decades in the United States. According to statistics from the Social Security Administration, there were five babies named Coyote born in 1993. The number of annual births with this name rose slightly to six in 2003 and then increased again to seven in 2004.
After a brief decline to five births in 2009, the popularity of the name Coyote began to grow more significantly. In 2016, there were nine babies named Coyote born in the United States, followed by eight in 2017 and an even higher number of thirteen in both 2018 and 2019.
The year 2020 saw a substantial jump in the number of newborns given the name Coyote, with nineteen babies sharing this unique moniker. This trend continued into 2021, with eight births reported, and then reached another peak in 2022 with fifteen births. The most recent data from 2023 shows that there were once again nineteen babies named Coyote born in the United States.
In total, over these twenty-one years, there have been 127 newborns given the name Coyote in the United States. While this number may seem small compared to more popular names, it is clear that the name Coyote has maintained a steady, if somewhat fluctuating, presence among parents choosing unique and distinctive names for their children.