Polynesian Names - Behind the Name

Ana f Spanish, Portuguese, Slovene, Bulgarian, Romanian, Croatian, Serbian, Albanian, Macedonian, Georgian, Fijian, Tongan
Form of Anna used in various languages.

Anahera f Maori
Means "angel" in Maori.

Anakoni m Hawaiian
Hawaiian form of Anthony.

Anaru m Maori
Maori form of Andrew.

Apikalia f Hawaiian
Hawaiian form of Abigail.

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

Ātaahua f Maori
Means "beautiful" in Maori.

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

Ekewaka m Hawaiian
Hawaiian form of Edward.

Elikapeka f Hawaiian
Hawaiian form of Elizabeth.

Haukea f Hawaiian
Means "white snow" from Hawaiian hau "snow" and kea "white".

Haunani f Hawaiian
Means "beautiful snow" from Hawaiian hau "snow" and nani "beauty, glory".

Heirani f Tahitian
From Tahitian hei "crown, garland" and raʻi "heaven, sky".

Heitiare f Tahitian
From Tahitian hei "crown, garland" and tiare "flower".

Hemi m Maori
Maori form of James.

Heremoana m Tahitian
From Tahitian here "loved, dear" and moana "ocean".

Herenui f Tahitian
From Tahitian here "loved, dear" and nui "big".

Hine f Maori
Means "girl" in Maori.

Hohepa m Maori
Maori form of Joseph.

Hōkūlani f Hawaiian
Means "heavenly star" from Hawaiian hōkū "star" and lani "heaven, sky, royal, majesty".

Huhana f Maori
Maori form of Susan.

Iakopa m Hawaiian
Hawaiian form of Jacob.

Iekika f Hawaiian
Hawaiian form of Jessica.

Ikaia m Hawaiian
Hawaiian form of Isaiah.

Ikaika m Hawaiian
Means "strong" in Hawaiian.

Iokua m Hawaiian
Hawaiian form of Joshua.

Iolana f Hawaiian
Means "to soar" in Hawaiian.

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

Kai 3 m & f Hawaiian
Means "sea" in Hawaiian.

Kailani f Hawaiian
From Hawaiian kai "ocean, sea" and lani "sky, heaven".

Kaimana m & f Hawaiian
From Hawaiian kai "ocean, sea" and mana "power". It is also Hawaiian meaning "diamond", derived from the English word diamond.

Kaipo m & f Hawaiian
Means "the sweetheart" from Hawaiian ka, a definite article, and ipo "sweetheart".

Kakalina f Hawaiian
Hawaiian form of Katherine.

Kala 2 f Hawaiian
Hawaiian form of Sarah.

Kalani m & f Hawaiian
Means "the heavens" from Hawaiian ka "the" and lani "heaven, sky, royal, majesty".

Kale m Hawaiian
Hawaiian form of Charles.

Kalea f Hawaiian
Means "joy, happiness" in Hawaiian.

Kalei m & f Hawaiian
Means "the flowers" or "the child" from Hawaiian ka "the" and lei "flowers, lei, child".

Kalena f Hawaiian
Hawaiian form of Karen 1.

Kaleo m Hawaiian
Means "sound, voice" from Hawaiian ka "the" and leo "sound, voice".

Kamalani f & m Hawaiian
Means "heavenly child" or "royal child" from Hawaiian kama "child" and lani "heaven, sky, royal, majesty".

Kanani f Hawaiian
Means "the beauty" from Hawaiian ka "the" and nani "beauty, glory".

Kapena m Hawaiian
Means "captain" in Hawaiian (of English origin).

Kapono m Hawaiian
Means "the good one" from Hawaiian ka, a definite article, and pono "good, moral".

Kapua f & m Hawaiian
Means "the flower" or "the child" from Hawaiian ka, a definite article, and pua "flower, offspring".

Kauʻi f & m Hawaiian
Means "the youthful one" from Hawaiian ka, a definite article, and uʻi "youth, beauty".

Kaulana m & f Hawaiian
Means "famous" in Hawaiian.

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

Kawehi f & m Hawaiian
Means "the adornment" from Hawaiian ka, a definite article, and wehi "adornment".

Keahi f & m Hawaiian
Means "the fire" from Hawaiian ke, a definite article, and ahi "fire".

Keala f & m Hawaiian
Means "the path" from Hawaiian ke, a definite article, and ala "path".

Kealoha f & m Hawaiian
Means "the loved one" from Hawaiian ke, a definite article, and aloha "love".

Keanu m & f Hawaiian
Means "the cool breeze" from Hawaiian ke, a definite article, and anu "coolness". This name is now associated with Canadian actor Keanu Reeves (1964-).

Kekepania f Hawaiian
Hawaiian form of Stephanie.

Kekoa m Hawaiian
Means "the warrior" from Hawaiian ke, a definite article, and koa "warrior, koa tree".

Keola m Hawaiian
Means "the life" from Hawaiian ke, a definite article, and ola "life, health".

Keone m & f Hawaiian
Means "the homeland" from Hawaiian ke, a definite article, and one "sand, homeland".

Keoni m Hawaiian
Hawaiian form of John.

Kiana 1 f Hawaiian, English
Hawaiian form of Diana. It was brought to wider attention in the late 1980s, likely by the Hawaiian fitness instructor Kiana Tom (1965-), who had a television show on ESPN beginning in 1988.

Kilikina f Hawaiian
Hawaiian form of Christina.

Kimo m Hawaiian
Hawaiian form of James.

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-).

Koa m Hawaiian
Means "warrior, koa tree" in Hawaiian.

Kōnane m & f Hawaiian
Means "bright" in Hawaiian.

Lani f Hawaiian
Means "sky, heaven, royal, majesty" in Hawaiian.

Lehua f & m Hawaiian
Means "ohia flower" in Hawaiian.

Lei 1 m & f Hawaiian
Means "flowers, lei, child" in Hawaiian.

Leilani f & m Hawaiian
Means "heavenly flowers" or "royal child" from Hawaiian lei "flowers, lei, child" and lani "heaven, sky, royal, majesty".

Leimomi f Hawaiian
Means "pearl lei" or "pearl child" from Hawaiian lei "flowers, lei, child" and momi "pearl".

Maata f Maori
Maori form of Martha.

Maeva f Tahitian, French
Means "welcome" in Tahitian. It gained popularity in France during the 1980s.

Maile f Hawaiian
From the name of a type of vine that grows in Hawaii and is used in making leis.

Makaio m Hawaiian
Hawaiian form of Matthew.

Makana m & f Hawaiian
Means "gift" in Hawaiian.

Malakai m Fijian, Tongan, English (Modern)
Fijian and Tongan form of Malachi, as well as a modern English variant.

Maleko m Hawaiian
Hawaiian form of Mark.

Malia f Hawaiian, English (Modern)
Hawaiian form of Maria. This name experienced a spike in popularity in 2009, due to the eldest daughter (born 1998) of the new American president Barack Obama.

Mālie f Hawaiian
Means "calm" in Hawaiian.

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.

Māui m & f Hawaiian, Polynesian Mythology
Meaning unknown. In Hawaiian mythology Māui was a trickster who created the Hawaiian Islands by having his brothers fish them out of the sea. He was also responsible for binding the sun and slowing its movement.

Mele f Hawaiian, Tongan, Samoan
Means "song" in Hawaiian. This is also the Hawaiian, Tongan and Samoan form of Mary.

Melika f Hawaiian
Hawaiian form of Melissa.

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

Mikaere m Maori
Maori form of Michael.

Mikala m Hawaiian
Hawaiian 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.

Moerani m & f Tahitian
From Tahitian moe "sleep" and raʻi "heaven, sky".

Momi f Hawaiian
Means "pearl" in Hawaiian.

Nālani f & m Hawaiian
Means "the heavens" or "the chiefs" from Hawaiian nā, a definite article, and lani "heaven, sky, chief".

Nani f Hawaiian
Means "beauty, glory" in Hawaiian.

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.

Noa 2 m Croatian, Hawaiian, French
Croatian and Hawaiian form of Noah 1, as well as a French variant.

Noelani f Hawaiian
Means "heavenly mist" from Hawaiian noe "mist" and lani "heaven, sky, royal, majesty".

Paora m Maori
Maori form of Paul.

Patariki m Maori
Maori form of Patrick.

Peni m Hawaiian
Hawaiian form of Ben 1.

Petera m Maori
Maori form of Peter.

Pika 1 m Hawaiian
Hawaiian form of Peter.

Piripi m Maori
Maori form of Philip.

Pomare m & f Tahitian
Means "night cough", from Tahitian pō "night" and mare "cough". This name was borne by four kings and a queen of Tahiti. The first king adopted the name after his child died of a cough in the night.

Pua f & m Hawaiian
Means "flower, offspring" in Hawaiian.

Pualani f Hawaiian
Means "heavenly flower" or "royal offspring" from Hawaiian pua "flower, offspring" and lani "heaven, sky, royal, majesty".

Puanani f Hawaiian
Means "beautiful flower" or "beautiful offspring" from Hawaiian pua "flower, offspring" and nani "beauty, glory".

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.

Sione m Tongan, Samoan
Tongan and Samoan form of John.

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

Tamati m Maori
Maori form of Thomas.

Tamatoa m Tahitian
From Tahitian tama "child" and toa "warrior".

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.

Tavita m Samoan
Samoan form of David.

Tevita m Fijian, Tongan
Fijian and Tongan form of David.

Tiare f Tahitian
Means "flower" in Tahitian, also specifically referring to the species Gardenia taitensis.

Timoti m Maori
Maori form of Timothy.

Tipene m Maori
Maori form of Stephen.

Uʻilani f & m Hawaiian
Means "heavenly beauty" or "royal beauty" from Hawaiian uʻi "youth, beauty" and lani "heaven, sky, royal, majesty".

Vaihere f Tahitian
From Tahitian vai "water" and here "loved, dear".

Vaimiti f Tahitian
From Tahitian vai "water" and miti "sea, salt".

Vaitiare f Tahitian
From Tahitian vai "water" and tiare "flower".

Viliami m Tongan
Tongan form of William.

Waimarie f Maori
Means "good luck" in Maori.

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

Wikolia f Hawaiian
Hawaiian form of Victoria.

Wiremu m Maori
Maori form of William.

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