Mina - A Sioux Name?
Hey there!
There is an entry in the user submitted database claiming that Mina is a Sioux name meaning "oldest daughter".
With all the misinformation floating around the internet when it comes to Native American names, I'd like to make sure that this meaning is correct and that Mina actually is used as an authentic Sioux name in the Sioux culture.
So far, I'm rather suspicious as only not exactly credible websites seem to list Mina as a Native American name. So could anyone confirm this information?Thanks in advance!
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My grandmother is a Fourth Cherokee her name is Essa Mina. I do not know is somewhere in her ancestors there are Sioux people.
I am the oldest Daughter and oldest granddaughter. I assume I am just named after her regardless of the meaning of the name. My Mother was Sylvia Jane - this my name spelling which is not the norm but is out there. My name is pronounced with a long I. Mina not mean.
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Not sure if there is a name Mina in Sioux culture, but from my own personal experience, having an Aunt Mina, who was born in Germany, this was her nickname. Her birth name was Wilhelmina, which is the feminine of Wilhelm or Willam in Englsh.
Hope this helps!
Ellen. : )
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I was able to recover Alihelisdi's list of native american names, and it says that Mina is indeed Sioux and gives the meaning "Oldest Daughter". It is also listed without tribal affiliation and the meaning "Fruit". Both listings are girl's names.The first entry should be verifiable (or falsifiable) with a Sioux-English dictionary, the second isn't reliable at all.
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Hi! I was wondering if this is true and were you goy your evidence, just curious. thanks
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That it's in the list, yes, that it's a sioux name, it appears not. According to the New Lakota dictionary, the Lakota words for "oldest daughter" or "firstborn daughter" are witȟókapȟa or Winúŋna, the latter apparently may reflect Dakota dialect influence (i.e. the name Winona). miná! in Lakota is used by women as an interjection expressing real or feigned fear or surprise.

This message was edited 10/22/2018, 11:09 AM

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I am named after my grandmother who is Essa Mina. She was 1/4 Cherokee but adopted so not much if any ancestors information other than a brother Last mane Green. Our name .Mina, is pronounced with a long (I) not mena- long (e) it is not short for another name.Just trying to find origin.
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Hi!
I am Mina as well haha and I have a grandma Janeen, who I'm actually trying to find since I was adopted. Do you know if she was married to a Johnny Bembenek? Thanks!
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Long /i/, sounds like eek, long /e/ like ere. This"on flick" became "on fleeeek" when extended by a YouTuber. I think the sound you mean is the /ai/ diphthong, as in "aye". Doesn't mean it wasn't originally short for another name, just that when chosen they didn't know that's where it came from or how it was normally pronounced. Most people who choose a short form don't think about what it was short for. Without knowing their inspiration it's hard to be certain.
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