Maori Names - Behind the Name

Anahera f Maori
Means "angel" in Maori.

Anaru m Maori
Maori form of Andrew.

Aroha f & m Maori
Means "love" in Maori.

Ātaahua f Maori
Means "beautiful" in Maori.

Āwhina f Maori
Means "help, support" in Maori.

Hemi m Maori
Maori form of James.

Hine f Maori
Means "girl" in Maori.

Hohepa m Maori
Maori form of Joseph.

Huhana f Maori
Maori form of Susan.

Kahurangi f & m Maori
From the name of a type of green gemstone found in New Zealand, meaning "sky blue" in Maori.

Kauri m Maori
From the name of a type of tree found in New Zealand (species Agathis australis).

Kiri f Maori
Means "skin of a tree or fruit" in Maori. This name has been brought to public attention by New Zealand opera singer Kiri Te Kanawa (1944-).

Maata f Maori
Maori form of Martha.

Manaia f & m Maori
From the name of a stylized design common in Maori carvings. It represents a mythological creature with the head of a bird and the body of a human.

Marama f & m Maori, Polynesian Mythology
Means "moon" in Maori. This is the name of a moon god (or goddess) in Maori mythology.

Mere f Maori, Fijian
Maori and Fijian form of Mary.

Mikaere m Maori
Maori form of Michael.

Moana f & m Maori, Hawaiian, Tahitian, Samoan, Tongan
Means "ocean, wide expanse of water, deep sea" in Maori, Hawaiian and other Polynesian languages.

Ngaio f Maori
Maori name that is derived from the name of a type of tree, also called the mousehole tree. This name was borne by New Zealand crime writer Dame Ngaio Marsh (1895-1982).

Ngaire f Maori
Possibly from the name of the town of Ngaere in New Zealand, of Maori origin meaning "wetland".

Nīkau m Maori
From the name of a type of palm tree found in New Zealand (species Rhopalostylis sapida).

Nikora m & f Maori
Maori form of Nicholas or Nicole.

Paora m Maori
Maori form of Paul.

Patariki m Maori
Maori form of Patrick.

Petera m Maori
Maori form of Peter.

Piripi m Maori
Maori form of Philip.

Rangi m Maori, Polynesian Mythology
Means "sky" in Maori. In Maori and other Polynesian mythology Rangi or Ranginui was a god of the sky, husband of the earth goddess Papa. They were locked in a crushing embrace but were eventually separated by their children, the other gods.

Roimata f Maori
Means "teardrop" in Maori.

Ruiha f Maori
Maori form of Louisa.

Tama m Maori
Means "son, boy" in Maori.

Tamati m Maori
Maori form of Thomas.

Tāne m Maori, Polynesian Mythology
Means "man" in Maori. In Maori and other Polynesian mythology Tāne was the god of forests and light. He was the son of the sky god Rangi and the earth goddess Papa, who were locked in an embrace and finally separated by their son. He created the tui bird and, by some accounts, man.

Timoti m Maori
Maori form of Timothy.

Tipene m Maori
Maori form of Stephen.

Waimarie f Maori
Means "good luck" in Maori.

Whetū f & m Maori
Means "star" in Maori.

Wiremu m Maori
Maori form of William.

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