200+ Polynesian Baby Names: Hawaiian, Maori, Samoan & More

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Long before satellite navigation, Polynesian wayfinders crossed thousands of miles of open Pacific by reading the stars, the ocean swells, and the flight paths of birds. That deep relationship with sea and sky shows up in the language too, including the names — many draw directly on words for tide, current, starlight, and the natural signs that once guided voyagers home. Below, you’ll find names pulled from five Polynesian traditions, each carrying its own version of that connection to water and light.

🔍 Curious how popular a name is?

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Popularity below is calculated from Social Security Administration data through 2024, the most recent year on record.

Here’s what’s in store –

Hawaiian Names That Belong to the Ocean

Maori Names With Strength and Story

Samoan Names With Quiet Power

Tongan Names With Royal Weight

Tahitian Names That Sound Like Music

Sky, Star, and Heaven Names Across Polynesia

Water, Wave, and Ocean Names

Strong Polynesian Names for Boys

Soft, Lyrical Names for Girls

This list pulls from five Polynesian traditions: Hawaiian, Maori (Aotearoa / New Zealand), Samoan, Tongan, and Tahitian. They share deep linguistic roots but each language has its own music — Hawaiian leans soft and vowel-heavy, Maori has a rolling, percussive cadence, Samoan and Tongan can feel grand and ceremonial, Tahitian sits somewhere between a whisper and a song. You’ll see the same concepts (sea, sky, light, love) rendered in beautifully different sounds across them.

A note before you scroll: Polynesian names often carry genealogy, family history, and place. If you’re outside the culture and one of these names finds you, take a moment to learn its weight before you give it. Ask, if you can. Read about the islands the name comes from. A name borrowed with care is a different thing than a name borrowed casually.

And one more thing — pronunciation matters here. Most of these names are spelled almost exactly how they sound, with vowels doing the heavy lifting (a as in “father,” e as in “they,” i as in “machine,” o as in “go,” u as in “moon”). Say them out loud. That’s half the joy.

Hawaiian Names That Belong to the Ocean

Hawaiian is full of words for water in motion — for different kinds of waves, currents, foam, and the exact moment the tide turns. These names carry that fluency.

Kai

Origin: Germanic/Scandinavian (also popularly linked to Hawaiian)
Pronunciation: KY · ˈkaɪ
Meaning: possibly from Latin Caius, or a Frisian pet form of Gerard/Cornelius/Nicholas (‘warrior’); popularly reinterpreted in the US as Hawaiian for ‘sea’
Popularity: #76 and falling (#61 → #76, 2024)

Short, salt-bright, and the easiest crossover name on this list — works everywhere from a kindergarten roll call to a surfboard.

Moana

Origin: Polynesian (Hawaiian/Māori)
Pronunciation: moh-AH-nah · moʊˈɑːnə
Meaning: sea, ocean
Popularity: #3,197 and rising (#3,956 → #3,197, 2024)

The Disney film made it global, but the name long predates 2016 and remains beloved across Polynesia.

Kaimana

Origin: Hawaiian
Pronunciation: ky-MAH-nah · kaɪˈmɑːnə
Meaning: diamond
Popularity: #3,290 and falling (#2,915 → #3,290, 2024)

Often associated with Diamond Head on Oʻahu; carries both nature and stone.

Nalu

Origin: Hawaiian
Pronunciation: NAH-loo · ˈnɑːluː
Meaning: wave
Popularity: #7,825 and rising (#13,054 → #7,825, 2024)

Surfers especially love this one — it captures the moment a wave is forming, not just breaking.

Makani

Origin: Hawaiian
Pronunciation: mah-KAH-nee · məˈkɑːni
Meaning: the wind
Popularity: #4,801 and falling (#4,417 → #4,801, 2024)

For a baby you suspect will not sit still.

Kainalu

Origin: Hawaiian
Pronunciation: ky-NAH-loo · kaɪˈnɑːluː
Meaning: sea of rolling waves
Popularity: #4,956 and rising (#5,157 → #4,956, 2024)

A more lyrical extension of Kai.

Hōkū

Origin: Hawaiian
Pronunciation: HOH-koo · ˈhoʊkuː
Meaning: a star
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

The kahakō over the o lengthens it into a sigh.

Hōkūlani

Origin: Hawaiian
Pronunciation: hoh-koo-LAH-nee · ˌhoʊkuːˈlɑːni
Meaning: a star of the heavens
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Lani

Origin: Hawaiian
Pronunciation: LAH-nee · ˈlɑːni
Meaning: sky, heaven
Popularity: #1,911 and rising (#2,041 → #1,911, 2024)

Endlessly mixable as a suffix or alone.

Leilani

Origin: Hawaiian
Pronunciation: lay-LAH-nee · leɪˈlɑːni
Meaning: heavenly garland of flowers, with a royal connotation
Popularity: #66 and falling (#61 → #66, 2024)

The most familiar Hawaiian name in the U.S. mainland for a reason.

Kekoa

Origin: Hawaiian
Pronunciation: keh-KOH-ah · kɛˈkoʊə
Meaning: the warrior
Popularity: #2,604 and falling (#2,161 → #2,604, 2024)

Strong without being aggressive.

Keanu

Origin: Hawaiian
Pronunciation: kee-AH-noo · kiˈɑːnuː
Meaning: the coolness / cool breeze
Popularity: #632 and falling (#537 → #632, 2024)

Yes, like Keanu Reeves, whose Hawaiian father gave him the name.

Mahina

Origin: Hawaiian
Pronunciation: mah-HEE-nah · mɑːˈhiːnə
Meaning: moon, moonlight
Popularity: #3,672 and falling (#3,161 → #3,672, 2024)

Soft and round on the tongue.

ʻIolana

Origin: Hawaiian
Pronunciation: ee-oh-LAH-nuh · iː.oʊˈlɑːnə
Meaning: soaring hawk (ʻio ‘hawk’ + lana ‘to soar, float’)
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

The ʻokina (the little glottal stop at the start) gives it lift.

Kalea

Origin: Hawaiian
Pronunciation: kah-LAY-ah · kɑːˈleɪə
Meaning: the joy, the pleasure
Popularity: #1,364 and rising (#1,415 → #1,364, 2024)

A name that sounds like what it means.

Noelani

Origin: Hawaiian
Pronunciation: noh-eh-LAH-nee · ˌnoʊɛˈlɑːni
Meaning: heavenly mist
Popularity: #1,656 and falling (#1,651 → #1,656, 2024)

A favorite for babies born in winter or in the rain.

Pualani

Origin: Hawaiian
Pronunciation: poo-ah-LAH-nee · ˌpuː.əˈlɑː.ni
Meaning: heavenly flower, also carrying a sense of royal descent
Popularity: #17,030 as of 2023 — not currently in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Sister-name to Leilani with a softer middle.

Akamai

Origin: Hawaiian
Pronunciation: ah-kuh-MY · ɑːkəˈmaɪ
Meaning: clever, smart, skilled
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

A bold modern choice for either gender.

Kaholo

Origin: Hawaiian
Pronunciation: kah-HOH-loh · kəˈhoːloʊ
Meaning: Swift, fast moving
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Also the name of a basic hula step — the swaying side-to-side.

Maluhia

Origin: Hawaiian
Pronunciation: mah-loo-HEE-uh · mɑːluːˈhiːə
Meaning: peace, tranquility
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

A quiet, ceremonial-feeling word.

Anela

Origin: Hawaiian
Pronunciation: ah-NEH-lah · ɑˈnɛlə
Meaning: angel
Popularity: #3,012 and rising (#3,139 → #3,012, 2024)

Gentle and unexpected.

Kaipo

Origin: Hawaiian
Pronunciation: KY-poh · ˈkaɪpoʊ
Meaning: sweetheart, beloved
Popularity: #8,625 and falling (#6,348 → #8,625, 2024)

A favorite for late-in-life babies.

Keola

Origin: Hawaiian
Pronunciation: kay-OH-lah · keɪˈoʊlə
Meaning: the life (or ‘the healthy one’)
Popularity: #7,030 and rising (#9,366 → #7,030, 2024)

Often given as a thank-you name after a difficult pregnancy.

Honu

Origin: Hawaiian
Pronunciation: HOH-noo · ˈhoʊnuː
Meaning: a sea turtle
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

The honu is a guardian spirit in Hawaiian tradition.

ʻAnuenue

Origin: Hawaiian
Meaning: rainbow
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Pronounced “ah-noo-eh-noo-eh” — five syllables of pure color.

Kahiau

Origin: Hawaiian
Pronunciation: kah-hee-OW · kəhiˈaʊ
Meaning: generous giving, without expecting anything in return
Popularity: #7,010 and rising (#9,328 → #7,010, 2024)

A name that’s a small life lesson.

Lokelani

Origin: Hawaiian
Pronunciation: loh-keh-LAH-nee · ˌloʊkɛˈlɑːni
Meaning: heavenly rose
Popularity: #16,642 and falling (#14,439 → #16,642, 2024)

The official flower of Maui.

Iliahi

Origin: Hawaiian
Pronunciation: ee-lee-AH-hee · ˌiːliːˈɑːhiː
Meaning: sandalwood
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Warm and woodsy, with a nod to old trade routes.

Onaona

Origin: Hawaiian
Pronunciation: oh-nah-OH-nah · oʊnɑːˈoʊnɑː
Meaning: soft fragrance
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

The kind of name that turns a head in a quiet room.

Kalani

Origin: Hawaiian
Pronunciation: kah-LAH-nee · kəˈlɑːni
Meaning: the heavens, the sky
Popularity: #339 and rising (#380 → #339, 2024)

Unisex and rising fast on U.S. charts.

Kawena

Origin: Hawaiian
Pronunciation: kuh-WEH-nuh · kəˈwɛnə
Meaning: the glow, as of a reddish sky
Popularity: #16,398 and falling (#11,693 → #16,398, 2024)

Named for the legendary scholar Mary Kawena Pukui.

Maori Names With Strength and Story

Maori names (te reo Māori, the language of Aotearoa / New Zealand) often carry whole short stories — a quality, a memory, a piece of weather. Many double as nature words still in everyday use.

Aroha

Origin: Māori
Pronunciation: ah-ROH-hah · ɑːˈroʊhɑː
Meaning: love, compassion
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

The most fundamental word in te reo — you’ll hear it constantly in New Zealand.

Anahera

Origin: Māori (loanword from English)
Pronunciation: ah-nah-HEH-rah · ˌɑːnəˈhɛərə
Meaning: angel
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Surprisingly soft for a Maori name; one of the most popular girls’ names in NZ today.

Marama

Origin: Māori
Pronunciation: MAH-rah-mah · ˈmɑːrəmə
Meaning: moon (also ‘light’ or ‘understanding’)
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Glows on the page and in conversation.

Atarangi

Origin: Māori
Pronunciation: ah-tah-RAHN-gee · ɑːtɑːˈrɑːŋi
Meaning: shadow of the sky (from ‘ata, ‘ shadow/dawn, and ‘rangi, ‘ sky/heaven)
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Atmospheric and quiet.

Wairua

Origin: Māori
Pronunciation: WY-roo-ah · ˈwaɪɾʉ.a
Meaning: spirit, soul
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

A serious, ceremonial name — wear it carefully.

Manaaki

Origin: Māori
Pronunciation: mah-NAH-kee · mɐˈnɑːki
Meaning: to care for, support, and show hospitality toward others
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

A name that’s also a value.

Kaia

Origin: Finnish/Estonian (variant of Katariina/Catherine)
Pronunciation: KY-ah · ˈkaɪə
Meaning: variant of Catherine (via Finnish/Estonian Katariina), traditionally glossed ‘pure’
Popularity: #180 and rising (#186 → #180, 2024)

Easy crossover with English-speaking countries.

Kowhai

Origin: Māori
Meaning: yellow; also New Zealand’s native yellow-flowering kōwhai tree
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Pronounced “KOH-fai.”

Nikau

Origin: Māori
Pronunciation: NEE-kow · ˈniːkaʊ
Meaning: the nikau palm tree
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Increasingly popular for boys.

Tane

Origin: Māori/Polynesian (mythological name)
Pronunciation: TAH-neh · ˈtɑːneɪ
Meaning: in Māori and wider Polynesian mythology, the god of forests and trees (also generically ‘man, male’ in Māori)
Popularity: #13,977 as of 2012 — not currently in the U.S. Social Security rankings

One of the great names of Polynesian mythology.

Manu

Origin: Sanskrit and/or Hawaiian/Polynesian (dual origin)
Pronunciation: MAH-noo · ˈmɑːnuː
Meaning: progenitor of humankind (Sanskrit) / bird (Hawaiian)
Popularity: #5,352 and falling (#4,994 → #5,352, 2024)

Used as a stand-alone or as part of longer names.

Aria

Origin: Italian (modern English coinage from the musical term)
Pronunciation: AR-ee-ah · ˈɑːriə
Meaning: song, melody
Popularity: #26 and falling (#25 → #26, 2024)

Ataahua

Origin: Māori
Pronunciation: ah-TAH-hoo-ah
Meaning: beautiful
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Said “ah-tah-ah-hoo-ah.”

Tui

Origin: Māori
Pronunciation: TOO-ee · ˈtuːi
Meaning: a native New Zealand songbird
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Hineata

Origin: Māori
Pronunciation: hee-neh-AH-tah · ˌhiːnɛˈɑːtɑ
Meaning: daughter of the morning
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Hineroa

Origin: Māori
Pronunciation: hee-neh-ROH-ah · ˌhiːnɛˈrɔː.ɑ
Meaning: a tall girl
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Stately and uncommon.

Whetu

Origin: Maori
Meaning: Star
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Pronounced “feh-too” or “wheh-too” depending on dialect.

Maia

Origin: Greek/Roman (mythological); also Māori
Pronunciation: MY-ah · ˈmaɪə
Meaning: refers to the mythological Maia — mother of Hermes in Greek myth, and a Roman goddess of springtime growth (source of the month name ‘May’); also used independently as a Māori name meaning ‘brave, confident’
Popularity: #459, holding steady (2024)

Shares spelling with the Greek goddess; identical sound, separate origin.

Awhina

Origin: Māori
Pronunciation: AH-fee-nah · ˈɑːfiːnɑː
Meaning: to help, to assist
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

A warm action verb as a name.

Tangaroa

Origin: Māori/Polynesian (mythological name)
Pronunciation: tah-ngah-ROH-ah
Meaning: the Polynesian/Māori god of the sea (in some Samoan and Tongan traditions, the supreme or creator god)
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

A big name — usually given with serious intent.

Rangi

Origin: Māori
Pronunciation: RAHN-gee · ˈɾaŋi
Meaning: sky, heavens
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Rangi is the sky father in Maori cosmology.

Ahorangi

Origin: Maori
Pronunciation: ah-ho-RAHNG-ee · aːhɔˈɾaŋi
Meaning: the modern Maori word for ‘professor’; often understood to evoke a ‘learned one’
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Used as a modern term for “professor” — a scholarly name.

Hemi

Origin: Māori (form of James)
Pronunciation: HEH-mee · ˈhɛmi
Meaning: supplanter (via James)
Popularity: #7,926 and falling (#5,752 → #7,926, 2024)

A New Zealand classic, like calling your son Jamie.

Wiremu

Origin: Māori (transliteration of William)
Pronunciation: WEE-reh-moo · ˈwɪərɛmuː
Meaning: will + protection — ‘resolute protector,’ the Māori form of William
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

The Maori adaptation of William; very common in NZ.

Mereana

Origin: Māori (adapted form of an introduced Western name)
Pronunciation: meh-reh-AH-nah · mɛɾɛˈɑːnə
Meaning: Marian, of the sea
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Carries both Catholic and oceanic associations.

Pania

Origin: Maori
Pronunciation: PAH-nee-uh · ˈpɑːniə
Meaning: a sea maiden of Maori legend, linked to the reef off Napier, New Zealand
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

A statue of her sits on Napier’s waterfront.

Hira

Origin: Sanskrit (Hindi/Urdu)
Pronunciation: HEE-rah · ˈhiːrɑː
Meaning: diamond
Popularity: #4,223 and rising (#6,253 → #4,223, 2024)

Short and weighty.

Aumihi

Origin: Māori
Pronunciation: ow-MEE-hee · aʊˈmiːhi
Meaning: warm greeting
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

A hospitable, celebratory name.

Te Aroha

Origin: Māori
Pronunciation: teh ah-ROH-hah · tɛ aˈrɔha
Meaning: the love
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

“Te” is the definite article — also a mountain in NZ.

Tiare

Origin: Tahitian
Pronunciation: tee-AH-ray · tiˈɑːreɪ
Meaning: flower (the tiare gardenia, Tahiti’s national flower)
Popularity: #12,019 and falling (#11,079 → #12,019, 2024)

Said “tee-AH-reh.”

Samoan Names With Quiet Power

Samoan (Gagana Samoa) tends to carry a formal, almost ceremonial register — many names are full sentences or compressed proverbs.

Talia

Origin: Hebrew (also used as a variant of Thalia or short form of Natalia)
Pronunciation: TAH-lee-ah · ˈtɑːliə
Meaning: dew from/of God
Popularity: #270 and falling (#264 → #270, 2024)

Has parallels in Hebrew but the Samoan root is its own.

Sina

Origin: Scottish Gaelic (anglicization of Sìne/Síne); also used independently as a Persian boy’s name honoring Ibn Sina
Pronunciation: SEE-nah · ˈsiːnə
Meaning: honors the philosopher Avicenna (Ibn Sina)
Popularity: #7,175 and rising (#8,875 → #7,175, 2024)

Pronounced “SEE-nah.”

Lagi

Origin: Samoan
Pronunciation: LAH-ngee · ˈlɑːŋi
Meaning: sky, heaven
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

The “g” sounds like “ng” — “LAH-ngee.”

Tofa

Origin: Samoan
Pronunciation: TOH-fah · ˈtoːfa
Meaning: wisdom; also a Samoan farewell
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Carries a goodbye and an insight at once.

Alofa

Origin: Samoan
Pronunciation: ah-LOH-fah · əˈloʊfə
Meaning: love, compassion
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Cognate with Hawaiian aloha and Tongan ʻofa.

Manaia

Origin: Maori
Pronunciation: mah-NY-ah · mɑːˈnaɪə
Meaning: guardian spirit figure
Popularity: #8,735 and falling (#7,128 → #8,735, 2024)

Used for boys in Samoa, more unisex in diaspora.

Tama

Origin: unclear from this data pull
Pronunciation: TAH-mah · ˈtɑːmɑː
Meaning: Boy, son, child
Popularity: #10,608 as of 2018 — not currently in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Often used as a prefix in longer names.

Tama’ita’i

Origin: Samoan
Pronunciation: tah-mah-ee-TAH-ee · tɑːmɑːʔiːˈtɑːʔi
Meaning: lady, woman — a term of respect
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Stately and adult-sounding even on a small child.

Folauga

Origin: Samoan
Pronunciation: foh-LAU-ngah · foˈlaʊŋa
Meaning: a voyage or journey
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

For a baby who already feels like an arrival.

Faleolo

Origin: Samoan (place name)
Pronunciation: fah-lay-OH-loh · faleˈolo
Meaning: House of feathers
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Also the name of Samoa’s main airport — a built-in homecoming reference.

Malo

Origin: Breton/French (traditional name, as in Saint Malo)
Pronunciation: MAH-loh · ˈmɑːloʊ
Meaning: Strength, also victory
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Crisp and confident.

Mareta

Origin: Samoan (from Aramaic, via Martha)
Pronunciation: mah-REH-tah · mɑːˈrɛtɑː
Meaning: lady, mistress
Popularity: #10,400 as of 1989 — not currently in the U.S. Social Security rankings

The Samoan softening of a Western classic.

Lupe

Origin: Spanish (short form of Guadalupe)
Pronunciation: LOO-peh · ˈluːpeɪ
Meaning: wolf river (traditional gloss of Guadalupe)
Popularity: #10,479 and falling (#10,401 → #10,479, 2024)

Tasi

Origin: Samoan
Pronunciation: TAH-see · ˈtɑːsi
Meaning: one, first
Popularity: #9,735 and rising (#12,070 → #9,735, 2024)

For an only or eldest.

Atalina

Origin: Samoan (localized form of a Western given name)
Pronunciation: ah-tah-LEE-nah · ɑːtɑːˈliːnɑː
Meaning: Daughter of the sea
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

A modern coinage that’s caught on.

Faiva

Origin: Samoan / Tongan
Pronunciation: FYE-vah · ˈfaɪvə
Meaning: skill, talent, or craft
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

For a child you suspect already has one.

Tama’alii

Origin: Samoan
Pronunciation: tah-mah-ah-LEE-ee · tɑːmɑːʔɑːˈliːʔi
Meaning: child of a chief (from ‘tama, ‘ child, and ‘ali’i, ‘ chief)
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

A serious title-name.

Toa

Origin: Polynesian (Maori word name)
Pronunciation: TOH-uh · ˈtoʊ.ə
Meaning: warrior, brave, strong
Popularity: #7,667 and falling (#6,473 → #7,667, 2024)

Sharp, two syllables, ages well.

Sefina

Origin: Samoan
Pronunciation: seh-FEE-nuh · sɛˈfiːnə
Meaning: Samoan form of Josephine, ultimately from Joseph, meaning ‘he will add’ (Hebrew)
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Lyrical alternative to the standard.

Pele

Origin: Hawaiian
Pronunciation: PEH-leh · ˈpɛlɛ
Meaning: proper name of the Hawaiian goddess of fire and volcanoes (not a literal translation of ‘volcano’)
Popularity: #13,577 as of 2021 — not currently in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Worth noting the dual reference.

Aukai

Origin: Hawaiian
Pronunciation: OW-ky · ˈaʊkaɪ
Meaning: seafarer, voyager
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Adventurous and crisp.

Vailima

Origin: Samoan
Pronunciation: vye-LEE-mah · va.iˈli.ma
Meaning: five waters (vai ‘water’ + lima ‘five’); the name of Robert Louis Stevenson’s Samoan estate
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Carries a literary footnote.

Filemu

Origin: Samoan
Meaning: peace and calm
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Pronounced “fee-leh-moo.”

Sina’ei

Origin: Samoan
Pronunciation: see-nah-EH-ee · siːnɑːˈeɪ.i
Meaning: Brilliant white, glowing
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

A more elaborate version of Sina.

Lefua

Origin: Samoan
Pronunciation: leh-FOO-ah · lɛˈfuːɑː
Meaning: The flower
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

“Le” is the definite article in Samoan.

Vaiana

Origin: Maori
Pronunciation: vy-AH-nah · vaɪˈɑːnə
Meaning: water cave (vai ‘water’ + ana ‘cave’)
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Used as the title for Moana in some European markets.

Tausala

Origin: Samoan
Pronunciation: tow-SAH-luh · taʊˈsɑːlə
Meaning: Lady of high rank
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Ceremonial and proud.

Tongan Names With Royal Weight

Tongan (lea faka-Tonga) has a strong royal tradition — Tonga is the only remaining Polynesian kingdom — and many names carry a dignified, courtly feel.

Sione

Origin: Tongan/Samoan (Pacific form of John)
Pronunciation: see-OH-neh · siˈoʊneɪ
Meaning: God is gracious
Popularity: #3,957 and falling (#3,693 → #3,957, 2024)

The “John Smith” of Tonga; warm, classic, ubiquitous.

Mele

Origin: Hawaiian (from English “Mary”)
Pronunciation: MEH-leh · ˈmɛlɛ
Meaning: Hawaiian form of the name Mary
Popularity: #9,324 and falling (#8,791 → #9,324, 2024)

Pronounced “MEH-leh.”

ʻOfa

Origin: Tongan
Pronunciation: OH-fah · ˈʔofa
Meaning: love, compassion
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Said with a soft glottal stop at the start.

Salote

Origin: Tongan
Pronunciation: sah-LOH-teh · saːˈlote
Meaning: Tongan form of Charlotte, which itself means ‘free man’ (a feminine form of Charles)
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Taufa

Origin: Tongan
Pronunciation: TOW-fuh · ˈtaʊfə
Meaning: Storm, hurricane
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

A royal Tongan name, carried by kings.

Tupou

Origin: Tongan (surname)
Pronunciation: too-POH · tuˈpoʊ
Meaning: A historic royal Tongan dynastic name
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Used by every Tongan monarch since 1845.

Latu

Origin: Tongan
Pronunciation: LAH-too · ˈlɑː.tuː
Meaning: Chief, also a fish
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Short and weighty.

Mafi

Origin: Tongan
Pronunciation: MAH-fee · ˈmɑːfi
Meaning: strong, mighty
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

A common Tongan surname turned first name.

Pita

Origin: Polynesian (Māori/Tongan/Samoan form of Peter)
Pronunciation: PEE-tah · ˈpiːtɑː
Meaning: rock (a Polynesian form of Peter)
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Easy and crisp.

Sefa

Origin: Tongan
Pronunciation: SEH-fah · ˈsɛfɑː
Meaning: Tongan/Samoan form of Joseph, meaning ‘he will add’ (Hebrew)
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Softer than its English source.

Anaseini

Origin: Tongan (form of the English name Anne)
Pronunciation: ah-nah-SAY-nee
Meaning: grace, favor
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

The Tongan elongation makes it a different word entirely.

Halaevalu

Origin: Tongan
Pronunciation: hah-lah-eh-VAH-loo · hɐlɐeˈvɐlu
Meaning: Path of the precious one
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Sila

Origin: multiple unrelated origins depending on culture (Arabic/Turkish, Inuit, Tongan)
Pronunciation: SEE-luh · ˈsiːlə
Meaning: Arabic/Turkish ‘sıla’ (from root ṣila, ‘connection, bond’) carries a specific sense of longing for or returning to one’s homeland; this is a separate word from the unrelated Inuit concept ‘sila’ (sky/weather/world-spirit) and Tongan usage — these are homographs, not the same name
Popularity: #5,567 and falling (#4,722 → #5,567, 2024)

Cross-cultural double meaning.

Vai

Origin: Polynesian
Pronunciation: VYE · vaɪ
Meaning: water
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Two letters, total clarity.

Sela

Origin: Hebrew (place name transferred to given-name use)
Pronunciation: SEE-luh · ˈsiːlə
Meaning: rock
Popularity: #4,173 and rising (#5,100 → #4,173, 2024)

Common and warm.

Lavinia

Origin: Latin (place name Lavinium, Latium)
Pronunciation: luh-VIN-ee-ah · ləˈvɪniə
Meaning: Adapted Latin name long established in Tonga
Popularity: #2,139 and rising (#2,346 → #2,139, 2024)

One of the queens of Tonga bore it.

Tevita

Origin: Tongan
Pronunciation: teh-VEE-tuh · teˈviːtə
Meaning: beloved (Tongan form of David)
Popularity: #5,018 and rising (#6,471 → #5,018, 2024)

The Tongan version of a classic.

Lōpeti

Origin: Tongan (from English Robert)
Pronunciation: loh-PEH-tee · loʊˈpeɪti
Meaning: bright fame, via Robert
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

The macron stretches the “o.”

Filipe

Origin: Portuguese (from Greek)
Pronunciation: fee-LEE-peh · fɪˈliːpɛ
Meaning: lover of horses
Popularity: #10,070 as of 2023 — not currently in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Said “fee-lee-peh.”

Tonga

Origin: Tongan (from Samoan)
Pronunciation: TONG-guh · ˈtɒŋɡə
Meaning: south, southern
Popularity: #12,726 as of 1986 — not currently in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Yes, you can name a child after the country — it carries deep meaning in diaspora families.

Inoke

Origin: Tongan (form of Enoch)
Pronunciation: ee-NO-keh · iˈnoke
Meaning: dedicated
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Older biblical name, gently adapted.

Heamasi

Origin: Tongan
Pronunciation: hay-ah-MAH-see · he.aˈma.si
Meaning: Servant of the chief
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Old-world and dignified.

Talita

Origin: Aramaic (via Portuguese)
Pronunciation: tah-LEE-tuh · təˈliːtə
Meaning: little girl
Popularity: #13,312 as of 2023 — not currently in the U.S. Social Security rankings

A meaning that lasts forever.

Lose

Origin: Tongan (from English Rose)
Pronunciation: LOH-seh · ˈloʊseɪ
Meaning: Rose
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Soft and floral.

Siaosi

Origin: Tongan
Pronunciation: see-ah-OH-see · siːɑːˈoʊsi
Meaning: Tongan form of George, meaning ‘farmer’ (from Greek ‘georgos, ‘ earth-worker)
Popularity: #9,710 and falling (#7,656 → #9,710, 2024)

Said “see-AH-oh-see” — three syllables of warmth.

Tahitian Names That Sound Like Music

Tahitian (reo Tahiti) has a particularly soft, flowing quality — many syllables, gentle consonants, plenty of vowels. They tend to read like poetry on a page.

Tahiti’s national flower; one of the most popular girls’ names in French Polynesia.

Heimana

Origin: Tahitian
Pronunciation: hay-MAH-nah · heɪˈmɑːnə
Meaning: one who wears or carries spiritual power
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Used for both boys and girls.

Maeva

Origin: Tahitian/Polynesian
Pronunciation: mah-AY-vah · mɑːˈeɪvə
Meaning: welcome (a Tahitian greeting)
Popularity: #1,318 and falling (#1,288 → #1,318, 2024)

Moeata

Origin: Tahitian
Pronunciation: moh-eh-AH-tah · mo.eˈa.ta
Meaning: sleep, as of a cloud or shadow
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Atmospheric and gentle.

Hinano

Origin: Tahitian
Pronunciation: hee-NAH-no · hiˈnaːno
Meaning: the fragrant blossom of the pandanus tree
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Also Tahiti’s beloved beer brand — a name with cultural texture.

Taina

Origin: Finnish
Pronunciation: TY-nuh · ˈtaɪnə
Meaning: a pet form of Tatiana used in Finland, also linked to a dialect word for ‘seedling’
Popularity: #7,200 and falling (#5,721 → #7,200, 2024)

Sweet and unassuming.

Manea

Origin: Tahitian
Pronunciation: mah-NEH-ah · mɑːˈneɪə
Meaning: Beautiful
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Short, romantic, unfamiliar to most English speakers.

Tehani

Origin: Tahitian
Meaning: Built from ‘te’ (the) plus ‘hani’ (darling) — roughly ‘the darling’ or ‘the sweetheart.’
Popularity: #7,538 and rising (#8,010 → #7,538, 2024)

Pronounced “teh-HAH-nee.”

Poema

Origin: Tahitian
Meaning: Pearl of the depths, deep pearl
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Pronounced “po-EH-mah” — accidentally resembles the English “poem.”

Vaihere

Origin: Tahitian
Pronunciation: vye-HEH-reh · va.iˈhe.re
Meaning: beloved water
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

The “vai” prefix appears across many water names.

Heiva

Origin: Tahitian
Pronunciation: hay-VAH · heɪˈvɑː
Meaning: a festival of dance and celebration
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Tāmatoa

Origin: Tahitian/Māori
Pronunciation: tah-mah-TOH-ah · ˌtɑːmɑːˈtoʊə
Meaning: brave child, young warrior
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Carried by the gold-hoarding crab in Moana — now also a serious name choice.

Manutea

Origin: Tahitian
Pronunciation: mah-noo-TEH-ah · mɑːnuːˈteɪ.ə
Meaning: white bird
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

One of the most popular Tahitian boys’ names today.

Ariihau

Origin: Tahitian
Pronunciation: ah-ree-ee-HOW · aɾiːiˈha.u
Meaning: peaceful ruler
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

A grand, four-syllable name.

Teiki

Origin: Tahitian
Pronunciation: tay-EE-kee · teˈiki
Meaning: Little one, the child
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

A diminutive that’s grown into a stand-alone name.

Maruia

Origin: Tahitian
Pronunciation: mah-roo-EE-ah · məˌruːˈiːə
Meaning: sheltered, at peace
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

A name as small grace.

Hereiti

Origin: Tahitian
Pronunciation: heh-reh-EE-tee · heɪreɪˈiːti
Meaning: a little or dearly loved one
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Raitea

Origin: Tahitian
Pronunciation: rye-TAY-uh · raɪˈteɪə
Meaning: Bright sky, light heaven
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Also the name of a Tahitian singer.

Teva

Origin: Hebrew and/or Tahitian (two unrelated origins)
Pronunciation: TEH-vuh · ˈtɛvə
Meaning: nature (Hebrew); alternatively, the name of a Tahitian warrior clan (unrelated Polynesian origin)
Popularity: #17,398 and falling (#12,075 → #17,398, 2024)

Strong and short.

Hina

Origin: Japanese; also Hawaiian/Polynesian and South Asian
Pronunciation: HEE-nah · ˈhiːnə
Meaning: sun, light
Popularity: #4,687 and rising (#6,040 → #4,687, 2024)

Old, divine, and easy to say.

Rai

Origin: Indian (Hindi)
Pronunciation: RYE · raɪ
Meaning: an Indian/Nepali surname meaning ‘king’ (also the name of an indigenous Nepali ethnic group)
Popularity: #3,949 and falling (#3,327 → #3,949, 2024)

A modern minimalist take on a classic.

Taaroa

Origin: Tahitian
Pronunciation: tah-ah-ROH-ah · ta.aˈroʊ.ə
Meaning: the creator god of Tahitian mythology, counterpart to Tangaroa elsewhere in Polynesia
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

One of the most important figures in Tahitian mythology.

Heipua

Origin: Tahitian
Pronunciation: hay-POO-ah · heɪˈpuːə
Meaning: a crown or garland of flowers
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

For a baby born during the flower season.

Vetea

Origin: Tahitian
Pronunciation: veh-TEH-ah · veˈte.a
Meaning: Pure water
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Clean and clear.

Heremoana

Origin: Tahitian
Pronunciation: heh-reh-moh-AH-nah · ˌhɛrɛmoʊˈɑːnə
Meaning: beloved of the sea
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Long and lyrical.

Tāuhiti

Origin: Tahitian
Pronunciation: tah-oo-HEE-tee · tɑːuːˈhiːti
Meaning: Distant horizon
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

For a wanderer.

Hoa

Origin: Vietnamese (Sino-Vietnamese)
Pronunciation: HWAH · ˈhwɑː
Meaning: flower (from a Chinese root, 華, whose core literary sense is ‘flower, splendid’)
Popularity: #12,018 as of 2004 — not currently in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Universal and gentle.

Sky, Star, and Heaven Names Across Polynesia

The same celestial concepts repeat across the languages — moon, star, sky, dawn — but each tradition gives them its own sound. Here they’re grouped by what they mean.

The kahakō makes it long and resonant.

Crisp and Pacific.

Fetu

Origin: Samoan
Pronunciation: FEH-too · ˈfɛtuː
Meaning: Star
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Same root as Whetu, softer consonants.

Fetia

Origin: Tahitian
Meaning: star
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Pronounced “feh-TEE-ah.”

Hetu

Origin: Tongan
Pronunciation: HEH-too · ˈhɛtuː
Meaning: a star
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Found in older Marquesan texts.

Masina

Origin: Samoan
Pronunciation: mah-SEE-nah · mɑːˈsiːnə
Meaning: moon
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Said “mah-SEE-nah.”

Langi

Origin: Tongan
Pronunciation: LAH-ngee · ˈlɑːŋi
Meaning: sky, heaven
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

With the harder Tongan “ng.”

Ata

Origin: Turkish or Polynesian
Pronunciation: AH-tah · ˈɑːtɑː
Meaning: father or ancestor (Turkish); dawn or shadow (Polynesian, e.g. Maori/Samoan/Tongan)
Popularity: #8,354 and falling (#7,323 → #8,354, 2024)

Two-letter, two-meaning beauty.

Tupua

Origin: Māori/Tongan
Pronunciation: too-POO-ah · tuˈpu.a
Meaning: spirit or supernatural being
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Old and mysterious.

Origin: Japanese or Polynesian (Māori/Hawaiian) — two unrelated origins
Meaning: blue-green (Japanese) or, unrelated, cloud/daylight/world (Polynesian)
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Pronounced “ow,” like surprise.

Aniwaniwa

Origin: Māori
Pronunciation: ah-nee-wah-NEE-wah · ɑːniːwɑːˈniːwɑː
Meaning: rainbow
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Said “ah-nee-WAH-nee-wah.”

Nuanua

Origin: Samoan
Pronunciation: noo-ah-NOO-ah · nu.aˈnu.a
Meaning: rainbow
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

The repetition gives it a song.

ʻUmata

Origin: Tongan
Pronunciation: oo-MAH-tah · ʔuˈmɑːtɑː
Meaning: Rainbow
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Distinct, ceremonial.

Anuanua

Origin: Tahitian
Pronunciation: ah-noo-ah-NOO-ah · anuaˈnua
Meaning: rainbow
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Long and lovely.

Pō

Origin: Hawaiian
Pronunciation: POH · poʊ
Meaning: night, or the primordial darkness from which the world emerged
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Just one syllable — but in mythology, the beginning of everything.

Water, Wave, and Ocean Names

Polynesian languages have dozens of words for water in different forms. These are the ones that have moved most easily into names.

The shortest passport on the list.

The mother concept.

Tai

Origin: Chinese (surname-derived, ambiguous)
Pronunciation: TY · ˈtaɪ
Meaning: Sea, tide
Popularity: #2,409 and rising (#2,685 → #2,409, 2024)

Wai

Origin: Maori/Hawaiian
Pronunciation: WY · waɪ
Meaning: Water
Popularity: #16,859 as of 1999 — not currently in the U.S. Social Security rankings

The “w” can sound like “v” in some dialects.

Ngaru

Origin: Māori
Pronunciation: NGAH-roo · ˈŋɑːruː
Meaning: wave
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Sharper and more textured.

Galu

Origin: Samoan
Pronunciation: NGAH-loo
Meaning: a wave
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Same root, different mouth.

Peau

Origin: Tongan
Pronunciation: peh-OW · peˈa.u
Meaning: wave
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Soft and rounding.

ʻAre

Origin: Tahitian
Pronunciation: AH-reh · ˈʔaɾe
Meaning: wave
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Crisp, glottal-stopped.

Vaimiti

Origin: Tahitian
Pronunciation: vy-MEE-tee · vaɪˈmiti
Meaning: Saltwater
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Vaihi

Origin: Tahitian
Pronunciation: VY-hee · ˈvaɪhi
Meaning: Hawaiian water — historically the Tahitian word for Hawai’i
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

A naming bridge between archipelagos.

Manawa

Origin: Māori
Pronunciation: MAH-nah-wah · ˈmɑːnɑːwɑː
Meaning: heart
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Polynesia put heart and tide in the same word.

Vailoa

Origin: Samoan
Pronunciation: vye-LOH-ah · va.iˈlo.a
Meaning: long water (vai ‘water’ + loa ‘long’)
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Stretches gracefully.

Kaiwi

Origin: Hawaiian
Pronunciation: kah-EE-vee
Meaning: the bone, symbolizing life and old age
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Specific and rooted.

Tāwhirimātea

Origin: Māori
Pronunciation: TAH-fee-ree-MAH-teh-ah
Meaning: God of the winds and storms
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

The big one — only give if you mean it.

Akuaku

Origin: Rapa Nui (Easter Island)
Pronunciation: ah-koo-AH-koo · ˌɑːkuːˈɑːkuː
Meaning: guardian or ancestral spirit
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Quiet and poetic.

Vaitiare

Origin: Tahitian
Pronunciation: vye-tee-AH-reh · va.i.tiˈa.re
Meaning: flower water (vai ‘water’ + tiare ‘flower’)
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Combines two of the most-used roots in the language.

Strong Polynesian Names for Boys

These names carry weight — warriors, chiefs, gods, and the kind of qualities Polynesian fathers traditionally hoped to pass on.

Koa

Origin: Hawaiian
Pronunciation: KOH-ah · ˈkoʊə
Meaning: warrior, courage; also the name of a native Hawaiian tree
Popularity: #292 and rising (#298 → #292, 2024)

Also the native Hawaiian acacia tree, prized for canoes.

Kanoa

Origin: Hawaiian
Pronunciation: kah-NOH-ah · kɑːˈnoʊə
Meaning: the free one, freed of taboo (ka ‘the’ + noa)
Popularity: #4,128 and falling (#2,917 → #4,128, 2024)

Easygoing and lightly rebellious.

Mateo

Origin: Spanish (from Hebrew Mattityahu, via Greek/Latin Matthaeus)
Pronunciation: mah-TAY-oh · mɑːˈteɪoʊ
Meaning: gift of God — the Spanish form of Matthew
Popularity: #7 and falling (#6 → #7, 2024)

A Pacific take on a worldwide name.

Keoni

Origin: Hawaiian (from English John, ultimately Hebrew)
Pronunciation: kay-OH-nee · keɪˈoʊni
Meaning: Hawaiian form of John, ultimately ‘God is gracious’
Popularity: #1,720 and falling (#1,596 → #1,720, 2024)

Warm Hawaiian adaptation.

Makoa

Origin: Hawaiian
Pronunciation: mah-KOH-ə · məˈkoʊ.ə
Meaning: brave, bold
Popularity: #1,117 and rising (#1,435 → #1,117, 2024)

Stronger cousin of Koa.

Tamati

Origin: Maori
Pronunciation: TAH-mah-tee · ˈtɑːmɑːti
Meaning: Maori form of Thomas, meaning ‘twin’ (from Aramaic)
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

The Maori take on a classic.

Hone

Origin: Māori (form of John)
Meaning: God is gracious
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Pronounced “HOH-neh.”

Mana

Origin: Polynesian (mana); also documented as a Japanese feminine and Iranian/Persian unisex given name
Pronunciation: MAH-nah · ˈmɑːnə
Meaning: power, prestige, spiritual authority
Popularity: #6,331 and rising (#7,137 → #6,331, 2024)

One of the most important concepts in Polynesian culture.

Anaru

Origin: Māori (form of the English name Andrew)
Meaning: manly, brave
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Pronounced “ah-NAH-roo.”

Kainoa

Origin: Hawaiian
Pronunciation: ky-NOH-uh · kaɪˈnoʊə
Meaning: namesake
Popularity: #1,698 and falling (#1,686 → #1,698, 2024)

Layered meaning.

Pono

Origin: Hawaiian
Pronunciation: POH-noh · ˈpono
Meaning: righteousness, moral correctness, or balance
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

A moral name in a single word.

Akoni

Origin: Hawaiian (form of the English name Anthony)
Pronunciation: ah-KOH-nee · əˈkoʊni
Meaning: Anthony
Popularity: #7,242 and rising (#7,302 → #7,242, 2024)

Friendly and warm.

Lono

Origin: Hawaiian
Pronunciation: LOH-noh · ˈloʊnoʊ
Meaning: Hawaiian god of agriculture/fertility; also ‘news’
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Carries serious mythological weight.

Iosefa

Origin: Samoan (form of Joseph)
Pronunciation: ee-oh-SEH-fah · joʊˈsɛfə
Meaning: God will add
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Manuel

Origin: Spanish
Pronunciation: man-WEL · mænˈwɛl
Meaning: form of Emmanuel, ‘God is with us’
Popularity: #351 and falling (#333 → #351, 2024)

Catholic missions left their mark across Polynesia.

Heihei

Origin: Māori
Pronunciation: HAY-hay · ˈheɪheɪ
Meaning: a domestic chicken or hen
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

The Moana rooster — but a real word.

Kapono

Origin: Hawaiian
Pronunciation: kah-POH-noh · kəˈpoːnoʊ
Meaning: the good or upright one
Popularity: #9,391 and rising (#13,189 → #9,391, 2024)

With the definite article.

Mahi

Origin: Hawaiian/Maori
Pronunciation: MAH-hee · ˈmɑːhiː
Meaning: Strong, also a fish
Popularity: #4,079 and rising (#4,244 → #4,079, 2024)

Active and sea-bright.

Heimanu

Origin: Tahitian
Pronunciation: hay-MAH-noo · heɪˈmɑːnuː
Meaning: a crown or garland of birds
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Stately and visual.

Atu

Origin: pan-Polynesian
Pronunciation: AH-too · ˈɑːtuː
Meaning: Skipjack tuna, also “away”
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Short and oceanic.

Soft, Lyrical Names for Girls

Polynesian languages produce some of the most musical girl names on earth — heavy on vowels, long on melody.

The crossover queen.

Simple, glowing.

Familiar and gentle.

Winter-baby beauty.

Underused outside Hawai’i.

Movement in a name.

The most-used word in Maori, period.

Old goddess names from two continents converge here.

NZ top-ten material.

Bright and warm.

Coincidentally global.

Active and warm.

Long and ceremonial.

Mythological depth.

Cathedral-and-coast vibes.

One-syllable elegance.

Soft and sweet.

The Samoan elongation works wonders.

Lyrical.

Modern coinage.

Two beautiful meanings.

Royal credentials.

Queenly.

Warm and short.

Gospel-soft.

Tahiti’s national flower.

Pure music.

Fragrant and specific.

Moana’s original name.

Three syllables of romance.

Accidentally resembles “poem.”

Floral and ceremonial.

Two beautiful roots.

Tahia

Origin: Tahitian
Meaning: Fragrant
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings