Pele

At a Glance

Meaning

Proper name of the Hawaiian goddess of fire and volcanoes (not a literal translation of 'volcano')

Origin

Hawaiian

Gender

Used for both boys and girls

Pronunciation

PEH-lehListen

Pele is the proper name of the Hawaiian goddess of fire and volcanoes, and it's a Hawaiian name, pronounced PEH-leh. You'll often see it said to mean 'volcano goddess' or, through a Hebrew-looking spelling, 'miracle' or 'wonder,' but that isn't accurate: Pele isn't a word that translates to either one, and those other glosses are separate, unrelated words that simply sound alike.

Meaning & Origin of Pele

Meaning: Proper name of the Hawaiian goddess of fire and volcanoes (not a literal translation of 'volcano').

Origin: Hawaiian.

A common claim: Often described as meaning 'volcano goddess' or, via a Hebrew variant spelling, 'miracle/wonder.' Actually: Pele isn't a word that translates to 'volcano' or 'wonder' — it's the Hawaiian goddess's proper name; the Hebrew and Samoan glosses are separate, unrelated words that just sound alike.

Source: Wiktionary.

How to Pronounce Pele

Popularity of Pele

Pele has always been a rare name in the U.S. It peaked at #4403 in 1981 with 9 babies, and by 2021 it ranked #13577 with just 5.

Names Like Pele

These names have followed a similar path to Pele in U.S. popularity over the years.

• Andreia
• Asley
• Alicea
• Avanti
• Michaelanthony
• Maxfield

FAQ

What does the name Pele mean?

Proper name of the Hawaiian goddess of fire and volcanoes (not a literal translation of ‘volcano’). (Source: Wiktionary)

How do you pronounce Pele?

Pele is pronounced PEH-leh (IPA: /ˈpɛlɛ/).

Is Pele a popular name right now?

Pele peaked at #4403 in 1981 and is ranked #13577 as of 2021. (U.S. Social Security Administration data, 1973–2021.)

Make Pele Name Art

Free printable nursery art for Pele, pre-loaded below — pick a layout, palette, and font, then download a print-ready PNG.