Polynesian Submitted Names

These names are used on the various Polynesian islands of the Pacific.
gender
usage
Submitted names are contributed by users of this website. The accuracy of these name definitions cannot be guaranteed.
Puakai f Hawaiian (Rare)
Means "ocean flower" in Hawaiian.
Pualei f Hawaiian (Rare)
Means "lei of flower" or "child of blossom," from pua meaning "flower, blossom" and lei meaning "lei, garland, wreath, (figuratively) beloved child."
Puāwai f Maori
Means "flower" in Maori.
Pueo m & f Hawaiian (Rare)
From the word referring to the Hawaiian short-eared owl, the owl being one of the more famous physical forms assumed by ʻaumākua (ancestor spirits) in Hawaiian culture, which vary.
Puhi m & f Hawaiian
Means "burn, set on fire" in Hawaiian.
Puluke m Hawaiian
Hawaiian form of Bruce.
Pumipi m Moriori
This name could maybe be a feminine name. This was the name of a signatory to the 1862 Moriori Crown Petition and Waitangi district leading elder named Pumipi Te Rangaranga.
Puna f & m Hawaiian (Rare)
From the word meaning "spring (of water)."
Puni f Hawaiian
Hawaiian form of Bunny.
Pūnohu m Hawaiian
Hawaiian masculine name meaning "rising mist".
Purau m & f Tahitian
Means "hibiscus tiliaceus" (a type of tropical and coastal flower).
Puretu f Cook Islands Maori
Means "lovely, beautiful."
Putiputi f Maori
Means "flower" in Maori.
Rāhera f Maori
Maori form of Rachel.
Rahiti f Tahitian
Means "sunrise" in Tahitian.
Raiana f Maori
Māori version of Diana.
Raiana f Tahitian
From the Tahitian ra'i meaning "sky" and ana meaning "star", or ana meaning "he, she, it" or "belonging to him/her".
Raiariinui m Tahitian
From the Tahitian ra'i meaning "sky", ari'i meaning "noble" and nui, an archaic term meaning "big".
Raihau m Tahitian
Means "heaven of peace"; a combination of Tahitian ra'i meaning "heaven" and hau meaning "peace".
Raimana m Tahitian
From the Tahitian ra'i meaning "sky" and mana meaning "power".
Raiona m & f Maori
Means "lion" in Maori.
Rangiātea f & m Maori
Means "heaven of the gods" in Maori. A place in Hawaiki, the ancestral land.
Rangimoana m Maori
Meaning as of yet unknown.
Ranginui m Polynesian Mythology, Maori, Cook Islands Maori
Derived from Rangi and nui meaning "large, big, vast, great." This is another name for the Maori god of the sky.
Rangitokona m Moriori
This is the name of the god who divided Heaven and earth and shaped man. This is also the name of a Maori Chief named Te Rangi Tokona.
Rāniera m Maori
Maori form of Daniel.
Rarahu f Literature, Tahitian
French variant of Rarau used by Pierre Loti in his popular autobiographical novel 'Le mariage de Loti' (1880), where it belongs to a native Tahitian woman who is the lover of the narrator - a French naval officer stationed on the island.
Rasela f Samoan
Samoan form of Rachel.
Rasiella f Polynesian
The name Rasiella comes from the name for "beautiful flower"... [more]
Rauana f Tahitian
From the Tahitian rau meaning "a hundred" or "many" and possibly ana meaning "star".
Raukura f Maori
Meaning as of yet unknown.
Rauparaha m Maori
This name in English is "calystegia sepium" a weedy vine or wildflower. New Zealand colonists mistranslated a person with this name "The Robuller." This is the name of Ngati Toa Chief Te Rauparaha (d... [more]
Raurii f Tahitian
Means "small leaf" in Tahitian.
Ravahere f Tahitian
Means "brown love" from Tahitian rava meaning "brown" and here meaning "love".
Ravanui f Tahitian
Means "great brown (brunette)"; from Tahitian rava meaning "brown, dark, black" and nui meaning "great, immense".
Rawiri m Maori
Maori form of David.
Renātā m Maori
Maori form of Leonard.
Repeka f Samoan
Samoan form of Rebecca.
Reremoana f Maori
Meaning as of yet unknown.
Reva f & m Tahitian
Meaning, "firmament."
Revaiti m & f Tahitian
Means "little flag" in Tahitian.
Revanui m Tahitian
Means "big flag" in Tahitian.
Rewa f Maori
Means 'elevation' in Maori.
Rewi m Maori
Maori form of Louis, Dave and Levi.
Ripeka f Maori
Maori form of Rebecca. It coincides with a Maori verb meaning "to crucify".
Riria f Maori
Maori form of Lydia.
Riripeti f Maori
Maori form of Lilibeth.
Riro m Rapa Nui
The meaning of the name is possibly unknown. This was a name of an araki "king" of Rapa Nui named Riro Kāinga before his name was changed to Simeon Riro after his baptism. Simeon was his baptismal name before he changed it to Riroroko.
Riu m Maori
Means "core, basin" in Māori.
Rīwai m Maori
This word in the Maori tongue is a general term for potato. This is not just a first name but a last name. This was the name of farmhand and son Wairua elder of Te Rōpiha, Rīwai Te Rōpiha. This is a middle name of Ngāi Tahu rugby player Manuera Benjamin Rīwai Couch (1925-1996).
Rohana f Moriori
Meaning of this name is possibly not known. This was the name of Rohana Tapu (d. 1902) Moriori slave and wife of Owenga Moriori leader Hirawanu Tapu.
Rohe m & f Maori
Means "land" in Māori.
Rongo-mai-tauira m Moriori
This was the name of a Moriori deity. He is the god of lightning and eels as well as "Will of the wisp."
Rongomaitere m Moriori
This is a personal noun. The name has different meanings that deal with the sea. It is an allegorical proportionate for ocean. This noun also means 'peace on the ocean.' One possible meaning is 'ocean god'... [more]
Rongomaiwhenua f Maori
It means "the land hears the news" in Maori.
Rongomaiwhenua m & f Moriori
This name means 'peace on the land' and is a allegorical equal for land. According to Moriori tradition this is the name for one of the founding ancestors of the Moriori and ancestor of the Hamata Moriori tribe who arrived on what is now the Chatham Islands.
Rongomai-whiti m Moriori, Maori
In a Moriori migration tradition story this is the name of a god who travel with people heading to what is now the Chatham islands. The name in the Maori language is referring to a god. Its possibly an description of Rongo (high ranking Maori god) or Rongomai (Maori god).
Rōpata m Maori
Maori form of Walter.
Roselani f Hawaiian
Older form of Lokelani.
Rosi f Polynesian, Melanesian
Polynesian and Melanesian form of Rosie.
Rua f & m Maori (Modern)
Means "two" and "abyss, pit" in Māori.
Rūaimoko m Maori
God of earthquakes in Māori myth. Also Ruaumoko.
Ruataata m Tahitian
Means "two people"; a combination of Tahitian rua "two" and ta'ata "human".
Ruatapu m Maori
Ruatapu tried to kill his half brother, Kahutia-te-rangi (who assumed the name Paikea) and drove him out, forcing him to survive by riding humpback whales to present day New Zealand
Ruihi f & m Maori
Maori form of Lucy, Louise and Louis.
Ruira f Maori
Maori form of Louisa.
Rupe f Maori
From the Maori personification of the New Zealand pigeon or kererū.
Ruru m Maori
Means "owl" in Maori.
Rutu f Maori (Rare)
Variant of Ruta.
Saadique f Samoan
Variant of Sadiqa.
Saia m Tongan
Short form of Sosaia.
Saimone m Tongan
Tongan form of Simon 1.
Sakalia m Tongan
Tongan equivalent of Zachary.
Salamasina f Samoan
Name of a queen of Samoa. The name is held with respect there and is only meant for the royal family. It means "forever".
Salesi m Tongan
Tongan form of Charles.
Sālote f Tongan
Tongan form of Charlotte. The most famous bearer of this name was Queen Sālote Tupou (1900-1965), the third monarch of the kingdom of Tonga and, so far, its only queen regnant.
Salote f Fijian, Tongan
Fijian and Tongan form of Charlotte.
Samenitā f Tongan
Tongan equivalent of Samantha.
Samu'ela m Hawaiian, Biblical Hawaiian
Older Hawaiian form of Samuel. It appears in the Bible in Hawaiian.
Sanita m Tongan
Short form of Alekisanita.
Sanitula f Tongan
Variant of Senitula.
Sanoe f Hawaiian
Based off the Hawaiian word noe, meaning "mist". It is the name of a famous song by Queen Liliuokalani.
Saofa'i f Samoan
Samoan form of Sophie.
Sa'ongau m & f Polynesian
Means "offering of leaves" in Bellonese.
Satina f Polynesian
From the matrial satin, meaning soft and gentle.
Sechelei m & f Polynesian
Means "friend" in Palauan.
Seini f Tongan
Tongan form of Jane.
Seisoni m Tongan
Tongan form of Jason.
Sekope m Tongan
Tongan form of Jacob.
Sela f Tongan
Tongan form of Sarah.
Selesii f Tongan (Rare)
Tongan borrowing of Chelsea.
Semisi m Samoan, Tongan, Fijian
Samoan form of James.
Semisi m Tongan
Tongan form of James.
Senifa f Tongan
Tongan equivalent of Jennifer.
Sesimani f Tongan
Tongan form of Jasmine.
Siale m Tongan (Rare)
Diminutive of Salesi, as well as the Tongan form of Charlie.
Siaosi m Tongan, Samoan
Tongan and Samoan form of George.
Sifa m Tongan
Short form of Siosifa.
Sina f Polynesian Mythology, Samoan
The name of a number of figures in Samoan mythology. It is derived from sina meaning "white" or "grey haired".
Sinalei f & m Samoan
"Lei of flowers"
Sinasamoa f Hawaiian
Means “cinnamon” in Hawaiian. It coincides with the word “ginger” in Samoan.
Sini m & f Samoan
Samoan variant of the name “Sydney”.
Siola'a f Tongan
Means "sunflower" in Tongan.
Siosefa m Tongan
Tongan form of Joseph.
Siosifa m Tongan
Tongan form of Joseph.
Siosiua m Tongan
Tongan form of Joshua.
Sitenei f Tongan
Tongan equivalent of Sydney.
Siua m Tongan
Short form of Siosiua.
Solomona m Hawaiian, Biblical Hawaiian
Older Hawaiian form of Solomon. It appears in the Bible in Hawaiian.
Sonatane m Tongan
Tongan form of Jonathan.
Soni m Tongan
Tongan diminutive of Sione.
Sosaia m Tongan
Tongan form of Josiah. Alternative spelling of Siosaia. Often shortened to Saia.
Sosefina f Tongan, Chuukese
Tongan and Chuukese form of Josephine.
Sosiua m Tongan
Tongan form of Joshua.
Sueleb f Polynesian
Means "noon" in Palauan.
Sulia f Tongan
Tongan form of Julia.
Suliani m Tongan
Tongan form of Julian.
Taai m & f Polynesian
Means "sun" in Gilbertese.
Taari m & f Polynesian
Means "sea" in Gilbertese.
Tabuang m Polynesian
Means "holy wind" in Gilbertese.
Taeao f Samoan
Means "dawn, morning" in Samoan.
Taenga f Maori
Means "arrival" in Maori.
Tai m Maori
Means "tide" in Māori.
Taia f Maori
Means "to paint, to tattoo" in Māori.
Taianui m Tahitian
Means "great respect", a combination of Tahitian taia "to respect, to fear" and nui "great, immense".
Taika m Maori
Means "tiger" in Māori. A notable bearer of this name is New Zealand actor and film director Taika Waititi (born 1975).
Taimane f Samoan
Means "diamond" in Samoan.
Taimani f Tongan
Taimani is of Tongan origin, meaning 'diamond'. It's now used by the entire Pacific community, especially in Fiji, Sāmoa and other Polynesian nations.
Taine m Maori
Variant of Tane.
Taini f Maori (Rare)
This is the name of Taini Morrison who was a Maori arts performer in New Zealand.
Tainui m Maori
Historic canoe from Hawaiki.
Taitearii m Tahitian
Means "king of the sea", a combination of Tahitian tai meaning "sea" and te ari'i meaning "the king".
Taito m Fijian, Samoan, Rotuman
Fijian and Samoan form of Titus.
Taitoko m Maori
Means "spring tide, tidal wave" in Māori.
Tākuta m Maori
Meaning as of yet unknown. A known bearer of this name is the Maori politician Tākuta Ferris (b. 1978) from New Zealand.
Takutai f Maori
Means "coast, shore" in Maori.
Tala m & f Samoan
Means "story" in Samoan.
Talalelei f Samoan
Means "good news" in Samoan.
Tamaeva f Polynesian
A famous bearer of this name is Tamaeva IV, queen of the Polynesian island of Rimatara.
Tamahere m Tahitian
Means "beloved child", from Tahitian tamariʻi meaning "child" and here "love".
Tamairangi f Maori
Meaning as of yet unknown. This was the name of a 19th-century Maori tribal leader and poet.
Tamaki m Maori
Maori name meaning the Auckland area of New Zealand.
Tamakororo m Moriori
This name may also been used and may be use by females today. This was the name of a Moriori man who was killed in 1791 after a misunderstanding over a fishing net with the first outsiders who came to what is now the Chatham Islands.
Tamarua m Cook Islands Maori
Means "second child," from tama meaning "child" and rua meaning "two."
Tamatea m Maori
Means "moon on the eighth night of the lunar month" in Maori.
Tame m Moriori
Meaning of this name is apparently unknown. This was the name of the last full blooded Moriori (Owenga and Otonga tribes) Tame Horomona Rehe aka Tommy Solomon (1884-1933) and Moriori elder Tame Tainui Tawarere.
Tamirangi f Maori
Meaning as of yet unknown; it might possibly be a variant of Tamairangi.
Taniela m Fijian, Tongan
Fijian and Tongan form of Daniel.
Tanieli f Tongan
Tongan feminine form of Taniela.
Taniera m & f Maori
Maori form of Daniel or Daniela.
Tanrake m Polynesian
Means "ocean" in Gilbertese.
Tapairu f Tahitian
Means "royal dancer" or "royal attendant" in Tahitian.
Tapu f Maori
Means "sacred" and "forbidden" in Māori.
Tapuarii m Tahitian
Derived from tapu meaning "sacred" and ari'i meaning "king".
Tapunui m Tahitian
Combination of Tahitian tapu "forbidden" and nui "earth".
Tara f & m Maori
Means "peak, point" in Māori. Also Māori for "sternidae".
Tariana f Maori
Possibly derived from Maori tāriana meaning "stallion".... [more]
Tarita f Polynesian, English (American), Popular Culture
The name was borne by the native Polynesian actress Tarita Teriipia who became the third wife of Marlon Brando. Initial research indicates its a Sanskrit name meaning, "to overcome obstacles" but this needs further research.
Tariu m Maori
Maori form of Thaddeus.
Tataro m Polynesian
Means "prayer" in Gilbertese.
Taufa m Tongan
Tongan given name and surname meaning "warrior" and "storm". Taufa is also a god in Tongan mythology.
Taurekareka m Maori
Meaning as of yet unknown. A notable bearer of this name is the Maori politician Taurekareka Hēnare (1878-1940) from New Zealand.
Tausa’afia m & f Samoan
Means "pleasant; lovable" in Samoan.
Tauvakatai m & f Polynesian
Means "one canoe" in Anutan.
Tava'esina f Samoan
Derived from the Samoan tava'e meaning "tropical bird" and sina meaning "white, grey, silver".
Tāwera f Maori
Means "Venus" in Maori.
Tawhā m Maori
Means "caldera/boundary line" in Māori. Short for Tū-te-tawhā - loosely translated as 'holding the boundary'. Tū-te-tawhā was a Māori chieftain of the Ngāti Tūwharetoa tribe.
Teanau m Maori
Meaning as of yet unknown. A notable bearer of this name is the Maori politician Teanau Tuiono (b. 1972) from New Zealand.
Teanuanua m Tahitian
Means "the rainbow" in Tahitian.
Te Ao m & f Maori
Means "the world, the day, the cloud" in Māori.
Tearaamanu m & f Polynesian
Means "Path of birds" in Anutan.
Te Arani f Maori
Possibly from te ārani meaning "the orange" (referring to the fruit, not the colour).
Teariki m Cook Islands Maori
Meaning as of yet unknown; it might possibly be related to Tuariki.... [more]
Te Aroha f & m Maori
Means "the love" in Maori (te, "the" and aroha, "love"). A variant of Aroha.
Teata m & f Tahitian
Means "the cloud" in Tahitian.
Teben m Polynesian
Means "coconut" in Gilbertese.
Tehani f Tahitian, Hawaiian, Literature
Derived from Tahitian te meaning "the" and hani meaning "darling". This was used for a character in the novel Mutiny on the Bounty (1932) by Charles Nordhoff and James Norman Hall... [more]
Tehea f Tahitian
Feminine of the unisex name, Tehei, meaning 'crown'.
Teheiura m & f Tahitian
Derived from Tahitian te hei 'ura literally meaning "the red crown".
Teina m & f Maori
means "brother" in Maori language.
Teira m & f Maori
Maori form of Taylor.
Te Kaha m & f Maori
Means "the strength" in Māori.
Te Kāhu m & f Maori
Means "harrier hawk" in Māori. Transliteration of "hawk".
Te Koha m & f Maori
Means "the gift; gifted" in Māori.
Te Māia m & f Maori
Means "the brave one" in Māori.
Temuera m Maori
Transferred use of the surname Temuera.
Tenama f Polynesian
Means "lagoon" in Gilbertese.
Tenao m Polynesian
Means "the wave" in Gilbertese.
Tengausasabe f Polynesian
Means "the hundred flying fish" in Bellonese.
Tenii f Polynesian
Means "coconut tree" in Gilbertese.
Teniu'usi m & f Polynesian
Means "the dark coconut" in Bellonese.
Tēpene m Maori
Maori form of Stephen.
Te Poki m Maori
The possibly meaning of this name is, "to clear the garden." This was the name of a Senior Ngati Mutunga chief.
Te Rangimārie m & f Maori
Means "the peace" in Māori.
Terava f Tahitian
From the Tahitian te meaning "the" and rava meaning "dark, brownish".
Tereapiʻi f & m Cook Islands Maori
Means "journey to learn," derived from tere meaning "trip, voyage, journey" and apiʻi meaning "learn, study."
Teremoana f & m Cook Islands Maori
Derived from tere meaning "trip, voyage, journey" and moana meaning "ocean."
Teuira m & f Tahitian
From the Tahitian te meaning "the" and uira meaning "lightning".
Teura m & f Tahitian
From the Tahitian te meaning "the" and 'ura, an archaic term meaning "red".
Teva m Tahitian
Means rain, name of a tribe.
Tevahine f Tahitian
From the Tahitian te meaning "the" and vahine meaning "woman".
Tevai m Tahitian
Means "water" in Tahitian.
Tevairai m & f Tahitian
Means "the celestial water" in Tahitian.
Tiaho f Maori
Means "shining" or "shine" in Maori.
Tiaitau m & f Tahitian
Means "long wait" in Tahitian.
Tiaki m Maori
Maori form of Jack, coinciding with the Maori word meaning "guard, keep">
Tiarehere f Tahitian
From Tahitian tiare meaning "flower, tiare flower" and here meaning "beloved, favourite".
Tiarenui f Tahitian
From the Tahitian tiare meaning "flower, tiare flower" and nui, an archaic term meaning "big".
Tihani f Polynesian
Tahitian
Tihoti m Tahitian
Tahitian form of John.
Tikanga m & f Maori
Means "important customs" in Māori.
Tineia f Maori
Means "to quench" in Māori.
Tino m Maori, Cook Islands Maori
Means "important" in Maori.
Tio m Maori
Means "freezing cold" in Māori. Also Māori form of Joe
Tipi f & m Maori
It means “affect by incantations” and “pare, slice, pare off”. This is the name of a female cousin of Senior Ngati Mutunga Chief Patukawenga who was married to a Waikato chief of Ngatikoroki named Taui... [more]
Titaina f Tahitian
Combination of Tahitian taina meaning "Gardenia jasminoides" (a type of flower) and the prefix ti- meaning "small".
Tīwata f Maori
Means "pale" in Maori.
Toa m Maori
Means "warrior" in Maori.
Toahere f Tahitian
Combination of Tahitian toa meaning "warrior" and here meaning "love".
Toʻerau m & f Tahitian
Means "north" or "northeastern wind" in Tahitian.
Tomasi m Tongan, Melanesian, Fijian
Tongan form of Thomas.
Torea m Moriori
This name means oystercatcher. This was the name of a Owenga Moriori Chief named Torea Takarehe (d. 1876) who was the teacher of Moriori elder Hirawanu Tapu.
Toroa f & m Maori
Derived from Maori toroa "albatross", ultimately from Maori toro "to stretch; to extend".
Toromona m Tahitian
Tahitian form of Solomon.
Towee m Polynesian
Originates in Puerto Rico from the word "tougue"
Tuahine f Tahitian
Means "sister" in Tahitian.
Tūāraki m & f Maori
Means "northern wind" in Māori.
Tuari m & f Maori
Tuariki m Maori
Apparently means "chief of high standing" in Maori.... [more]
Tui f & m Maori
Tui is the Maori name for the bird (Prosthemadera novaeseelandiae), which are easily identified for their small tuft of white feathers at the neck.... [more]
Tuki m Tahitian
Means "heartbeat" in Tahitian.
Tulisa’a f Tongan
Short form of Petulisa.
Turia f Tahitian
The name of model Turia Mau.
Tusitala m Samoan
Means "teller of tales" in Samoan. This name was adopted by the writer Robert Louis Stevenson when he lived on the island.
Ualani f Hawaiian
Means "rain from heaven" or "heavenly rain" in Hawaiian.
Uesi m Polynesian (Rare)
Possibly from Samoan aisa ("ice").
Uinirau m Tahitian
Contracted form of the Tahitian phrase te manu ri'i 'uini rau maruao meaning "small birds chirping at dawn".
Uira m & f Tahitian
Contracted form of the Tahitian phrase 'anapa te uira i te 'iriātai meaning "lighting flashing across the horizon".
Uitimani m Tongan
Diminutive of Uolota.
Ulanni f Polynesian
Variant of Ulani.
Uli m & f Hawaiian
Masculine form and feminine short form of Uliuli.
Uliuli f Hawaiian
Means "blue" in Hawaiian.
Uloi m Tongan
Tongan equivalent of Roy.
Ului m Polynesian
Means "to convert" in Samoan.
Ululani f Hawaiian
Means "heavenly inspiration" from Hawaiian ulu "to grow, be inspired" and lani "heaven, sky". This was the name of a ruler of Hilo.
Uluwehi f Hawaiian
From the Hawaiian uluwehi, "a lush and beautiful verdure; a place where beautiful plants live".
Umata f Tongan
Means "rainbow" in Tongan.
Uolota m Tongan
Tongan form of Walter.
Upai m & f Hawaiian
Means "tall, thin" in Hawaiian.
Upokoʻina m & f Cook Islands Maori
Derived from upoko meaning "head" and ʻina meaning "grey hair(ed)"
Upumoni f Samoan
Means "truth" in Samoan.
Ura m & f Tahitian
From Tahitian 'ura meaning "red" or "purple".
Uraatua m & f Tahitian
Derived from ura meaning "red" and atua meaning "god".
Uramoe m & f Tahitian
Derived form ura meaning "red" and moe meaning "sleep, dream".
Uranui m & f Tahitian
Derived from ura meaning "red" and nui meaning "big".
Uravini m Tahitian
Combination of Tahitian 'ura meaning "red" or "purple" and vini meaning "black-fronted parakeet" (a type of bird found on Tahiti).
Vaea m & f Tongan, Samoan, Tahitian, Polynesian Mythology
Meaning unknown, though it likely means "king, prince, noble, chief" based on the fact that the meaning of Mapu 'a Vaea, natural blowholes in Houma on the island of Tongatapu in Tonga, is known to be 'Whistle of the Noble/Chief/King' in Tongan... [more]
Vahinearii f Tahitian
From the Tahitian vahine meaning "woman" and ari'i meaning "noble".
Vaiana f Tahitian
Means "water cave" or "rock water" in Tahitian, from the phrase vai ana o te mato teitei meaning "water from the cave of the high rock".
Vaianu f Tahitian
Contracted form of the Tahitian phrase vai anu o te rua mato meaning "fresh water from the rock hole".