Find out how popular the first name Kamiah has been for the last 34 years (from 1990 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Kamiah by gender

Based on the last 34 years of data, Kamiah is exclusively a female name.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 41 female babies and 0 male babies born with the name Kamiah.

The history of the first name Kamiah

The name Kamiah is believed to have its roots in the Nez Perce language, spoken by the Nez Perce Native American tribe. The Nez Perce people have historically inhabited the Wallowa Valley in northeastern Oregon, as well as parts of Idaho and Washington.

The name Kamiah is thought to be derived from the Nez Perce word "qéemyx̣," which means "lichen" or "tree moss." This connection to nature and the environment is a common theme in many Native American names.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Kamiah can be found in the Lewis and Clark journals. During their expedition in the early 1800s, they encountered a Nez Perce village called Camiah, which is believed to be the modern-day town of Kamiah, Idaho.

Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals who have borne the name Kamiah. One such person was Kamiah (c. 1790-1847), a Nez Perce woman who served as a guide and interpreter for the Lewis and Clark expedition. Her assistance was invaluable in helping the explorers navigate through the Nez Perce territory.

Another notable Kamiah was Kamiah (1808-1882), a Nez Perce chief who played a significant role in the Nez Perce War of 1877. He was known for his efforts to maintain peace between his tribe and the United States government.

In the realm of literature, Kamiah is the name of a character in the novel "The Squaw Man" by Farah Wingate (1905). The novel depicts the life of a British aristocrat who falls in love with a Native American woman named Kamiah.

Kamiah is also the name of a fictional character in the novel "The White Dawn" by Virgil Scott (1975), which explores the experiences of a young Native American woman during the early years of European settlement in North America.

Another notable individual with the name Kamiah was Kamiah Sogoree (1920-2010), a Nez Perce author and educator who dedicated her life to preserving the language and culture of her tribe.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Kamiah was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Kamiah, please contact us.

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!