Why isn't it okay to name your child Cree or Dakota or the names of other native american tribes?

I think it's perfectly fine. It's just like naming one's child India, London, Asia, etc. when they're not from any of those places. I may not agree with the names themselves, but I do not agree with your reasoning of them being inappropriate. I think political correctness has gone too far.

Dakota Indian Names

Please see this website about this issue: http://www.native-languages.org/baby.htm

"...there has been a recent trend towards giving white children the names of Indian tribes as first names (Dakota, Cheyenne, Chippewa, etc.) I'd recommend against this, though, for two reasons: first, many Native Americans find the practice culturally and religiously inappropriate...Tribal names have special meaning in Indian culture, and using them as first names isn't considered respectful to the people

...Second, more practically speaking, the names of Indian tribes tend to have meanings that would strike most Americans as odd. Dakota, for example, is a plural noun--it's akin to naming your son "Frenchmen." Chippewa literally means "puckered up." Your child may not thank you for a name like this when he or she grows up any more than the people you're trying to honor will."

Frankly, if you are a Tribal member, you already know this is offensive.

If you're not a Tribal member...now you know.

I have never heard of the name Cree, but I have known several Dakota's and both boys and girls. And none have Native American, that I know of. But, you cannot always tell by their appearance.

- I don't care for it. It doesn't seem appropriate. It's the name of a tribe, not a person. I've got a tiny bit of Native American blood in me, and I would neither use the names of a tribe nor an Indian name. I'm not "Indian enough" -

It's like when people give their children Hawaiian names and don't have a drop of native Hawaiian blood in them or. At the very least spent more than 6 months to a year living here!

I'm native Hawaiian and work for a nanny service for tourists. I had a little girl come in the other day who's name is Kiana. I asked her parents about her name and where it came from, the mother replied "oh, her father and I have been to Hawaii so many times! And Decided to give her a Hawaiian name!"

I olelo hawaii, I speak Hawaiian & Kiana is NOT a Hawaiian name, it is a "hawaiian-ized" version of the name Diana, it has no meaning. I asked her what the name Kiana meant to her and she explained that they got it off a website and it meant "hula princess"! Bah! What a joke!

Of course, I didn't tell them the truth about their daughter's name but I can't help but cringe when I think about it.

Some Native Americans find it disrespectful or ignorant, even they wouldn't name a child one of those names because it's like us naming a child "Irish" or "American". Less culturally involved Native Americans, such as the ones I go to school with, probably wouldn't give two craps about it, it's just a name. It just depends on who you ask. I for one would just go with a name that doesn't have a chance of offending anyone.

Tribes are a bit more than what most people realize.

You wouldn't call your child Swedish, Norwegian or English, would you? It's the same principle with naming your child after the name of a tribe.

It's okay if you would also name your child Germany/German...or France/French...or Poland/Polish, etc. etc. etc.

I personally find it to be simplistic and annoying and consider this: tribal members of those actual tribes don't name their kids like that, so why would it be appropriate for whites just 'cause it's "cute." White Americans have a LONG tradition of usurping Native culture and symbols. Also, claiming "1/16" degree of unproven "Indian blood" is probably the BIGGEST example of this usurpation.

This claim is used to justify all kinds of things, from trashing native sovereignty to arguing for Native American sports mascots. You'll hear them say, "I'm part Cherokee, and I'm not offended!" As if this claim gives their rhetoric some legitimacy.

It bothers me when cute little tan kids are being called Ireland. They aren't Irish for one thing, and they aren't a country for another. It not only makes no sense but seems like it's diminishing my Irish heritage to a popular name. It's weird. Can't explain it any better. But using the names of nations and reducing them to first names diminishes them somehow and it's not good for the kid.