While reading the newest How I Named my Baby article, I noticed this line.
We loved the name Hawk , but it felt like appropriation from Indigenous communities.
Which got me curious! It doesn’t specify what indigenous group so targeting my research has been difficult. Any ideas? I’m a big fan of bird names so I’d like to be aware!
Interesting! I’m not a native person myself, not truly do I know much about many specific native peoples, but I do think [name_m]Hawk[/name_m] is a super cool name! It’s not my usual style, but I totally love it.
I wish they’d have specified! Indigenous is such a vague term, it’s just used for so many groups across so many countries and cultures. My raising family is indigenous but likely not of the group they’re mentioning, I know nothing about it — but would love to!
I was curious about this, too! I Googled it and various sites claim the name has English origins. I did find an article on names.org that mentioned it being a Native American name, mentioning a Flying Hawk.
Maybe that was it? Or maybe the parent just felt it would come off as a Native American name?
I’ve never heard of [name_m]Hawk[/name_m] being a name that’s culturally related to any indigenous culture, but, like you said, “indigenous” can refer to so many different peoples, maybe I just haven’t heard of it before.
Hawks are important in Native American culture, maybe that’s what they were referring to?
Seconding what @regionlatbest said. Specifically I found that in Navajo tradition, hawks represent swiftness and accuracy, so their feathers have been used to make arrows as well as used in religious ceremony (article here from the Navajo Times). Because hawks are present over so much of the Americas, though, I would expect they are important to other Indigenous cultures as well.
I’m not Indigenous, but personally I wouldn’t worry about using the name Hawk. The birds are not exclusive to Indigenous culture - there are hawks all over the world. Plus, the English word hawk comes from a germanic root rather than being a Native word. I would be more hesitant if Hawk originated from an Indigenous language, but because it doesn’t, and because hawks are found all over the world, I don’t think it pushes any cultural boundaries.
Yes, exactly! I’ve read a lot about the different ways hawks have significant meanings in Native American culture (I’m aware that’s very broad, but it seems they spread across it a decent amount!). A common theme is that they’re seen as important, though!
However, I also agree that I don’t necessarily think it’s appropriation to use it. I think if you were to use a word or tribe/group name, or something similar, that would be appropriation.
@EagleEyes worded this better than I could, so I just second this!!
If you’re still worried though, you could always try to get more opinions from other Native American people. I think it’s okay though!!