The Dutch bought it from the Native Americans and called it New Amsterdam, then the English took it and changed the name to New York. The name Manhattan comes from the Munsi language of Lenni Lenape, which means island of many hills. Other theories say that it comes from one of Munsi's three words. Other possibilities are manahatouh, which means a place where there is wood available for making bows and arrows, and menatay, which simply means the island.