Coyote as a Baby Name. Meaning and Origin of Coyote

What is the meaning of the name Coyote ?

The baby name Coyote is a Unisex name , 3 syllables long and is pronounced /ˈkaɪ.oʊ.ti/ — KYE-oh-tee.

Coyote is Nahuatl in Origin.

Coyote is a modern English given name drawn from the animal word, itself borrowed from Spanish coyote, which comes from Classical Nahuatl coyōtl, “coyote.” In Indigenous North American traditions - especially among many Plains, Great Basin, and Pacific Northwest peoples - Coyote is the central trickster-hero, a culture bearer whose cleverness, mischief, and transformative power explain natural and social order. As a name, it can therefore evoke wit, resilience, adaptability, and survival.

Recorded as a rare unisex choice in late 20th–21st‑century North America, Coyote aligns with the rise of nature word‑names like Fox, Wolf, Bear, and Raven, and appears occasionally as a nickname or stage name (e.g., Peter Coyote). Variants and related forms include the Nahuatl Coyōtl/Coyotl, Spanish Coyote, and creative spellings such as Kyote and Koyote; short forms Coyo or Coy may be used. Cultural sensitivity is advised given Indigenous significance and border‑slang associations.