Tenaya

Meaning of Tenaya

Tenaya (pronounced teh-NAY-uh) derives from the Northern Sierra Miwok language and is historically linked to the Ahwahneechee people of what is now Yosemite National Park, most notably as the name of Chief Tenaya. Its lexical roots refer directly to the park’s granite formations and alpine waters, establishing a clear tie between the word and its geographical origin. In U.S. Social Security Administration records, Tenaya first appears in the early 1970s and has since maintained a modest but stable presence, ranking 944th in 2024 with six recorded births. These usage metrics, coupled with the name’s indigenous and natural associations, make Tenaya a technically precise option for parents seeking a distinctive choice grounded in cultural and environmental heritage.

Pronunciation

Native American (Yosemite)

• Pronunced as teh-NAY-uh (/təˈneɪə/)

• Tatum
• Talia
• Teagan
• Taya
• Tessa
• Tiana
• Tenley