List of Maine placenames of Native American origin

Last updated November 08, 2025

The following list includes settlements, geographic features, and political subdivisions of Maine whose names are derived from Native American languages.

Listings

Counties

Androscoggin County : (Abnaki) "place where fish are dried/cured"^[1]
Aroostook County ^[2]
- Aroostook River: (Mi'kmaq) "beautiful river"
Kennebec County
- Kennebec River: (Abnaki) "long quiet water"
- Little Kennebec Bay
Penobscot County : (Abnaki?) tribal name; "place of descending rocks/ledges"
- Town of Penobscot
- Penobscot River
- North Branch Penobscot River
- West Branch Penobscot River
- East Branch Penobscot River
- South Branch Penobscot River
- Penobscot Bay
- Penobscot Pond
- Penobscot Island
- Little Penobscot Island
Piscataquis County : (Abnaki) "at the river branch"
Sagadahoc County
- Sagadahoc Bay

Settlements

Allagash River (and town): (Abnaki) "bark shelter"
- Allagash Lake
- Allagash Pond
Arrowsic
- Arrowsic Island
Caribou: (Abnaki) kalibu "shoveler" (gets food by pawing or shoveling)
- Caribou Mountain
Carrabassett Valley
- Carrabassett River
Casco: (Mi'kmaq) muddy
- Casco Bay
Damariscotta: (Abnaki) "many alewives"
- Damariscotta Lake
- Damariscotta River
Kenduskeag
- Kenduskeag Stream
Kennebunk: (Abnaki) "long sand bar"
- Kennebunk River
- Kennebunkport
- Kennebunk Dam
Machias
- Town of Machiasport
Macwahoc
Madawaska
Magalloway: likely of Abnaki origin, meaning "large tail".
- Magalloway River
- Little Magalloway River
- West Branch Little Magalloway River
- Middle Branch Little Magalloway River
- West Branch Magalloway River
- First East Branch Magalloway River
- Second East Branch Magalloway River
- Third East Branch Magalloway River
Mattawamkeag: (Abnaki) "fishing beyond gravel bar" or (Mi'kmaq) "on a sand bar"
- Mattawamkeag Lake
- Mattawamkeag River
- West Branch Mattawamkeag River
- East Branch Mattawamkeag River
Mexico
Millinocket: (Abnaki) "this place is admirable"
- Town of East Millinocket
- Millinocket Lake
- Millinocket Disposal Pond
Monhegan: (Mi'kmaq or Maliseet) "out-to-sea island"
New Canada
Nollesemic: (Abnaki) "resting place at the falls"
- Nollesemic Lake
Ogunquit: (Mi'kmaq) "lagoons within dunes"
- Ogunquit River
Orono: (Abnaki) purportedly from a Chief Joseph Orono, no translation
Oquossoc: (Abnaki) "place of trout" (a certain trout-type)
Passadumkeag: (Abnaki) "rapids over gravel beds"
- Passadumkeag River
Sabattus
- Sabattus River
- Sabbatus Pond
- Little Sabattus Pond
Saco: (Abnaki) "flowing out" or "outlet"
- Saco River
- Old Course Saco River
- Little Saco River
Sebago: (Abnaki) "big lake"
- Sebago Lake
Sebec
- Sebec River
- Sebec Lake
Seboeis
- Seboeis River
- Little Seboeis River
- West Seboeis Stream
- Seboeis Lake
- Grand Lake Seboeis
- Seboeis Deadwater
Village of Seboomook Lake: (Abnaki) "at the large stream"
- Seboomook Lake
Skowhegan (town): (Abnaki) "watching place [for fish]"
Scopan Lake (and town): (Abnaki) "bear's den"
Willimantic
Wiscasset

Bodies of Water

Abagadasset River
Alamoosook Lake
Annabessacook Lake
Aziscohos Lake: (Abnaki) "small pine trees"
- Aziscohos Pond
Bagaduce River
Baskahegan Lake
Big Machia Lake and Little Machia Lake
Big Madagascal Pond and Little Madagascal Pond
Bunganock Pond
Cambolasse Pond
Cape Neddick River
Caribou Lake (Island Falls)
- Caribou Lake (Washburn)
- Caribou Egg Pond
Caucomgomoc Lake
- Caucogomoc Stream
Chemquasabamticook Lake: (Abnaki) "where there is a large lake and rocks"
Chesuncook Lake: (Abnaki) "at the principal outlet"
- Chesuncook Pond
Chickawaukie Pond
Chimenticook River
Chiputneticook Lakes: (Abnaki) "at the place of the big hill stream"
Cobscook Bay: (Maliseet) "rocks under water"
Cobbosseecontee Lake: (Abnaki) "many sturgeon"
- Little Cobbosseecontee Lake
Cochnewagon Pond
Cupsuptic River
- East Branch Cupsuptic River
- Little East Branch Cupsuptic River
Cuxabexis Lake
Daaquam River
Debsconeag Lakes
- Debsconeag Deadwater
Eggemoggin Reach
Gammon Pond
Harraseeket River
Hockomock Bay
Katahdin Lake
Kamankeag Pond
Keewaydin Lake
Kennebago Lake: (Abnaki) "long/large pond/lake"
- Little Kennebago Lake
- Kennebago River
- West Kennebago Mountain
- East Kennebago Mountain
- Kennebago Divide
Keoka Lake
Lake Anasagunticook
Lake Kashwakamak
Lake Onawa
Lake Wassookeag
La Pomkeag Lake
Lower La Pomkeag Lake
Little Pushaw Pond
Lunksoos Lake
Upper Macwahoc Lake and Lower Macwahoc Lake
Madawaska River: (Mi'kmaq) "where one river joins another"
- Little Madawaska River
- Madawaska Lake
Manhancock Pond
Maquoit Bay
Maranacook Lake
Massachusetts Bog
Matagamon Lake: (Abnaki) "far on the other side"
Mattamiscontis Lake: (Abnaki) "many ale-wives"
- Little Mattamiscontis Lake
Mattanawcook Pond
Mattaseunk Lake
Medomak River
- Medomak Pond
- Little Medomak Pond
Meduncook River
Medunkenuk Lake
Meduxnekeag River
- North Branch Meduxnekeag River
- South Branch Meduxnekeag River
- Meduxnekeag Lake
Megunticook Lake
- Megunticook River
Messalonskee Lake
Metallak Pond
Millimagassett Lake
Minnehonk Lake
Moccasin Pond
Mollidgewock Pond
Molunkus Pond: (Abnaki) "ravine"
- Molunkus Stream
- Molunkus Lake
Mooseleuk Lake
Mooselookmeguntic Lake: (Abnaki) "moose feeding place" (portage to or big trees at)
Mousam River
- Middle Branch Mousam River
- Mousam Lake
Munsungan Lake
Muscongus Bay: (Abnaki) "many/large rock ledges"
Musquash Lake: (Abnaki) "muskrat"
- Musquash Pond
Musquacook Stream: (Abnaki) "muskrat place"
- Musquacook Lakes
Nahmakanta Lake: (Abnaki) "many fish"
Narraguagus Bay
- Narraguagus River
- Little Narraguagus River
- West Branch Narraguagus River (Hancock County)
- West Branch Narraguagus River (Cherryfield)
- Narraguagus Lake
Narramissic River
Nehumkeag Pond
Neoutaquet River
Nequassett Lake
Nesowadnehunk Lake
- Little Nesowadnehunk Lake
Nezinscot River
- West Branch Nezinscot River
- East Branch Nezinscot River
Nicatous Lake
Nokomis Pond
Nollesemic Lake
Ossipee River: (Abnaki) "beyond the water"
- Little Ossipee River
- Ossipee Lake
Papoose Pond
- Little Papoose Pond
Parmachenee Lake
Passamagamet Lake
Passagassawakeag River
- Lake Passagassawakeag
Passamaquoddy Bay: tribal name; "place of abundance of pollack"
Pattee Pond
Pemadumcook Chain of Lakes: (Maliseet) "extended sand bar place"
- Ambajejus
- Pemadumcook Lake
Pemaquid River
- Pemaquid Pond
Pennamaquan River
Pennesseewassee Lake
- Little Pennesseewassee Lake
Pequawket Lake
Piscataqua River
- Piscataqua River (tributary)
- East Branch Piscataqua River
Pocasset Lake
Pocwock River
Pockwockamus Deadwater
Podunk Pond
Presumpscot River
Pushaw Lake
Quahog Bay
Quantabacook Lake
Rockabema Lake
Saponac Pond
Sasanoa River
Scammon Pond
Schoodic Lake
- Schoodic Bog
Sebago Lake
- Little Sebago Lake
Sebasticook River: (Penobscot-Abnaki) "almost-through place"
- East Branch Sebasticook River
- Sebasticook Lake
Sennebec Pond
Shillalah Pond
Skitacook Lake
Songo River
Spednic Lake
Sysladobsis Lake
- Upper Sysladobsis Lake
Tacoma Lakes
Umbagog Lake
Umbazooksus Lake
Umcolcus Lake: (Abnaki) "whistling duck"
Umsaskis Lake
Usuntabunt Lake: (Abnaki) "wet head" or possibly "three heads"
Wassutaquook River
Watchic Pond
- Little Watchic Pond
Webhannet River: (Abnaki) "at the clear stream"
Weskeag River
Wesserunsett Lake
Wheelock Lake
Wohoa Bay
Wytopitlock Lake
Piscataqua River (New Hampshire border): (Pennacook) "the place where the river divides"

Islands

Bunganuc Island
Chebeague Island: (Abnaki) "separated place"
Malaga Island
Manana Island
Matinicus Island: (Abnaki) "far-out island"
- Matinicus Rock
Menigawum Island
Metinic Island: (Abnaki) "far-out island"
Mingo Island
Mosquick Island
Nahamkeag Island
Opechee Island
Sampsong Point
Schoodic Island
Schoppee Island
Sebascodegan Island
Squantum Point

Other

Bauneg Beg Mountain
Mount Agamenticus
Mount Katahdin: (Abnaki) "the principal mountain"
Mount Kineo
Mount Pisgah
Mount Tire'm
Pemaquid Point: (Mi'kmaq) "extended land" (peninsula)
Quoddy Head: (Passamaquoddy) abbreviation to "pollack"
Shawnee Peak

References

Citations

↑ Bright (2004), p. 39.
↑ Hamilton, William (1978). The Macmillan Book of Canadian Place Names. Toronto: Macmillan. p. 70. ISBN 0-7715-9754-1.

Sources

Bright, William (2004). Native American Placenames of the United States. Norman: University of Oklahoma Press. ISBN 080613576X.

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[FOOTNOTEBright200439-1] Bright (2004), p. 39.

[2] Hamilton, William (1978). The Macmillan Book of Canadian Place Names. Toronto: Macmillan. p. 70. ISBN 0-7715-9754-1.

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