This post contains affiliate links.
There’s a particular quality to Maori names that’s hard to describe until you start saying them out loud. They move. The vowels are long and open, the consonants soft, and almost every name is a small sentence about the natural world — a mountain, a river, a star that rose the night someone was born. In te reo Maori, a name isn’t decoration. It’s a story you carry.
🔍 Curious how popular a name is?
Check any name's popularity trend since 1880 with our free Baby Name Popularity Checker.
When referencing popularity, I am referring to baby name data from Social Security Administration database in the United States for 2025, which is the most current year of data available.
Here’s what’s in store –
Names Inspired by the Sky, Stars, and Weather
Names From the Land, Mountains, and Rivers
Strong Names from Maori Mythology and History
Nature Names: Birds, Plants, and Creatures
Maori naming traditions are deeply rooted in whakapapa (genealogy), the land (whenua), and the spiritual world (wairua). A child might be named for an ancestor, a place where something significant happened, an event that occurred near their birth, or a quality their parents hope they’ll grow into. Increasingly, families well beyond Aotearoa New Zealand are drawn to these names — not as exotic borrowings, but because they answer a question a lot of modern parents are asking: how do I give my child a name that means something real?
A quick note on pronunciation before we dive in: te reo Maori is wonderfully consistent. Vowels are pronounced “ah, eh, ee, oh, oo” (a, e, i, o, u), and the macron above a vowel (ā, ē, ī, ō, ū) means you hold that sound longer. “Wh” is usually a soft “f” sound, “ng” is the soft nasal at the end of “singing,” and “r” is a quick, soft tap — closer to a Spanish “r” than an English one. Aroha, for example, is “ah-ROH-hah.” Kia ora is “kee-ah OH-rah.” Once you have those sounds, every name on this list will roll off your tongue.
If you’re considering a Maori name and your family has no Maori heritage, it’s worth doing so thoughtfully — choose a name whose meaning genuinely resonates with you, learn to pronounce it properly, and be ready to share its story. With that, here are over 200 te reo Maori names organized by theme, each with its meaning, a note on pronunciation where it helps, and a little context.
Names Inspired by the Sky, Stars, and Weather
The Maori cosmos is alive — every star has a name, every wind a personality. These names connect a child to the great open expanse above Aotearoa.
- Origin: Māori
- Meaning: rainbow
- Popularity: Rare
- Origin: Cook Islands Māori
- Popularity: Rare
- Origin: Turkish or Polynesian
- Meaning: father or ancestor (Turkish); dawn or shadow (Polynesian, e.g. Maori/Samoan/Tongan)
- Popularity: #8354
Ata is a rare two-language homonym: in Turkish it means ‘father or ancestor’, while in Polynesian languages like Māori, Samoan and Tongan it means ‘dawn’ or ‘shadow’.
- Origin: Māori
- Meaning: shadow of the sky (from ‘ata, ‘ shadow/dawn, and ‘rangi, ‘ sky/heaven)
- Popularity: Rare
A poetic combination of dawn and heaven; gentle and luminous.
- Origin: Japanese; also Hawaiian/Polynesian and South Asian
- Meaning: sun, light
- Popularity: #4687
- Origin: Māori
- Meaning: daughter of the morning
- Popularity: Rare
- Origin: Māori
- Meaning: cloud
- Popularity: Rare
It is the plain Māori word for ‘cloud’, used directly as a name rather than as part of a compound.
- Origin: Māori
- Meaning: moon (also ‘light’ or ‘understanding’)
- Popularity: Rare
One of the most widely loved Maori girls’ names — luminous in every sense.
- Origin: Māori
- Meaning: the Pleiades star cluster, and by extension the Māori new-year season marked by its rising
- Popularity: Rare
Marks the Maori New Year; deeply celebratory and increasingly popular.
- Origin: Māori
- Meaning: daybreak, broad daylight
- Popularity: Rare
Bright and open-hearted, lovely for either gender.
- Origin: Māori
- Meaning: Rigel
- Popularity: Rare
Heralds the new year for some iwi; quietly distinctive.
- Origin: Māori
- Meaning: sky, heavens
- Popularity: Rare
It is the Māori word for ‘sky’ or ‘heavens’, and it forms the root of names like Ranginui and Rangimarie.
- Origin: Māori
- Meaning: great sky
- Popularity: Rare
It combines rangi (‘sky’) with nui (‘great’), so the name literally reads as ‘great sky’.
- Origin: Māori
- Meaning: the morning star (the planet Venus)
- Popularity: Rare
Bright and unmistakable, like its namesake.
- Origin: Māori
- Meaning: star
- Popularity: Rare
It is the everyday Māori word for ‘star’, used directly as a name.
- Origin: Māori
- Meaning: star of the sky
- Popularity: Rare
It joins whetū (‘star’) and rangi (‘sky’), which is how the name comes to mean ‘star of the sky’.
- Origin: Māori
- Meaning: smoke
- Popularity: Rare
- Origin: Māori
- Meaning: mist, fog
- Popularity: Rare
It is the Māori word for ‘mist’ or ‘fog’, so the name is a weather word used directly.
- Origin: Māori
- Meaning: deep darkness
- Popularity: Rare
The name is a reduplicated form of pōuri, so its ‘deep darkness’ meaning comes from the doubling.
- Origin: Māori
- Meaning: treasured possession; precious greenstone (the finest pounamu)
- Popularity: Rare
It names the finest grade of pounamu (greenstone), so the name carries the meaning ‘treasured possession’.
- Origin: Māori
- Popularity: Rare
- Origin: Māori
- Meaning: wind, vital essence
- Popularity: #15980
Hau is a single-syllable Māori word that covers both ‘wind’ and ‘vital essence’, so the name links breath and air.
- Origin: Hawaiian
- Meaning: rain
- Popularity: Rare
Two letters, one syllable, and instantly grounding.
- Origin: Māori
- Meaning: lightning
- Popularity: Rare
Quick, electric, full of energy.
- Origin: Māori
- Popularity: Rare
- Origin: Māori
- Meaning: great sun
- Popularity: Rare
- Origin: Māori
- Meaning: sun, day
- Popularity: Rare
Single-syllable and radiant.
- Origin: Māori
- Meaning: east wind; storm
- Popularity: Rare
Strong-feeling, with a coastal edge.
Names From the Land, Mountains, and Rivers
Aotearoa is a country where geography shapes identity. Maori place names often double as personal names, tying a child to a specific mountain, river, or stretch of coast.
- Origin: Māori
- Meaning: cloud in the sky
- Popularity: Rare
- Origin: Māori
- Meaning: river or stream
- Popularity: #5446
Flowing, calm, and quietly strong.
- Origin: Māori
- Meaning: mountain
- Popularity: Rare
Steady, immovable, and proud.
- Origin: Polynesian (Hawaiian/Māori)
- Meaning: sea, ocean
- Popularity: #3197
It is a word shared by Hawaiian and Māori for ‘sea’ or ‘ocean’, so the name works across Polynesian languages.
- Origin: Māori
- Meaning: song
- Popularity: Rare
Musical and joyful — perfect for a baby with a melodic spirit.
- Origin: Māori
- Meaning: spirit, soul
- Popularity: Rare
Deeply spiritual; often used as a middle name.
- Origin: Māori
- Meaning: land, earth; placenta
- Popularity: Rare
Profoundly rooted; in Maori tradition the placenta is buried in the land of belonging.
- Origin: Māori
- Meaning: man or husband
- Popularity: Rare
Strong and grounded; refers to Tāne Mahuta, who separated earth and sky.
- Origin: Māori
- Meaning: the Earth, mother earth
- Popularity: Rare
The full name of the earth goddess; reverent and powerful.
- Origin: Māori
- Meaning: earth, foundation
- Popularity: #7586
In Māori it means ‘earth’ or ‘foundation’, so it has no connection to the English ‘papa’ meaning father.
- Origin: Māori/Polynesian (mythological name)
- Meaning: the Polynesian/Māori god of the sea (in some Samoan and Tongan traditions, the supreme or creator god)
- Popularity: Rare
For a child connected to the ocean; deeply Polynesian.
- Origin: Māori
- Meaning: ocean maiden
- Popularity: Rare
A feminine ocean name with a folkloric ring.
- Origin: Māori
- Meaning: mountain maiden
- Popularity: Rare
Stately and uncommon.
- Origin: Māori
- Meaning: maiden of the sky mist
- Popularity: Rare
Long, atmospheric, and otherworldly.
- Origin: Māori
- Meaning: lake; inside, within
- Popularity: Rare
Calm and reflective.
- Origin: Māori and Hawaiian (Polynesian)
- Meaning: water
- Popularity: #16859
Pure, elemental, and short.
- Origin: Māori
- Popularity: Rare
- Origin: Māori
- Popularity: Rare
The Matariki star tied to the ocean; companion to Waitī.
- Origin: Māori
- Meaning: long courtyard; expansive meeting ground
- Popularity: Rare
It joins marae (‘courtyard’) with roa (‘long’), which gives the meaning ‘long courtyard’ or ‘expansive meeting ground’.
- Origin: Māori
- Meaning: ancestral homeland
- Popularity: Rare
The ancestral place all Maori voyaged from; a name full of longing and origin.
- Origin: Māori
- Meaning: greenstone, jade
- Popularity: Rare
One of the most treasured taonga (treasures) in Maori culture; strong and rare.
- Origin: Hawaiian
- Meaning: moon, moonlight
- Popularity: #3672
It is the Hawaiian word for ‘moon’ and ‘moonlight’, so the name is a direct celestial word.
- Origin: Māori (form of the English name Andrew)
- Meaning: manly, brave
- Popularity: Rare
Doubles as a heritage name with international familiarity.
- Origin: Māori
- Meaning: beech tree
- Popularity: Rare
Forest-rooted and uncommon.
- Origin: Māori
- Meaning: dark sky
- Popularity: Rare
Vast, open, slightly mysterious.
- Origin: Māori
- Meaning: carried away by the cold south wind
- Popularity: Rare
The name carries the sense ‘carried away by the cold south wind’, which describes a weather event rather than a person.
Strong Names from Maori Mythology and History
These names carry the weight of ancestors, gods, and legendary heroes. They suit a child whose parents want a name with a story they’ll spend years unfolding.
- Origin: Māori
- Popularity: Rare
Mischievous, brave, and beloved across Polynesia.
- Origin: Māori
- Popularity: Rare
For a child with sky-high potential.
- Origin: Māori
- Meaning: lord of the forest
- Popularity: Rare
Also the name of the largest living kauri tree; towering and ancient.
- Origin: Māori
- Meaning: peace or sound
- Popularity: Rare
Rongo is a Māori word that can mean either ‘peace’ or ‘sound’, so the name has two senses.
- Origin: Māori
- Meaning: great woman of the night
- Popularity: Rare
The goddess of death and the underworld; a name of immense mythic gravity.
- Origin: Māori
- Popularity: Rare
- Origin: Māori
- Popularity: Rare
Romantic — her love story with Tūtānekai is one of the most famous in Maori lore.
- Origin: Māori
- Popularity: Rare
The masculine counterpart to Hinemoa.
- Origin: Māori
- Popularity: Rare
Adventurous and foundational.
- Origin: Māori
- Meaning: art, knowledge, or summit
- Popularity: #16681
Compact and creative.
- Origin: Māori
- Meaning: thunder
- Popularity: Rare
It is the Māori word for ‘thunder’, used directly as a name.
- Origin: Māori
- Meaning: a legendary Māori figure, guardian of fish and sharks
- Popularity: Rare
Mythic and powerful.
- Origin: Māori
- Popularity: Rare
Fiery and unforgettable.
- Origin: Māori
- Meaning: god of earthquakes, volcanoes, and seasons
- Popularity: Rare
For a child of seismic energy.
- Origin: Māori
- Meaning: maiden of the case moth
- Popularity: Rare
Lyrical and artistic.
- Origin: unclear from this data pull
- Popularity: #10608
- Origin: Māori
- Popularity: Rare
Distinguished and historical.
- Origin: Māori (transliteration of Isaac)
- Meaning: he laughs (via Isaac)
- Popularity: Rare
Bridges heritage and biblical tradition.
- Origin: Māori form of James (from Hebrew Jacob)
- Meaning: supplanter
- Popularity: Rare
It is the Māori rendering of James, which itself comes from Hebrew Jacob and means ‘supplanter’.
- Origin: Māori (form of John)
- Meaning: God is gracious
- Popularity: Rare
Approachable and historically rich.
- Origin: Māori (transliteration of William)
- Meaning: will + protection — ‘resolute protector,’ the Māori form of William
- Popularity: Rare
It is the Māori transliteration of William, which is built from ‘will’ and ‘protection’ and so reads as ‘resolute protector’.
- Origin: Māori
- Popularity: Rare
The composer of the famous haka “Ka Mate”; bold and historic.
Soft, Lyrical Names for Girls
These names lean musical and feminine — full of long vowels, gentle rhythms, and quiet beauty. Many are widely used in Aotearoa today.
- Origin: Māori
- Meaning: love, compassion
- Popularity: Rare
The most beloved Maori girl’s name; warm and universal.
- Origin: Māori
- Meaning: angel
- Popularity: Rare
It is the Māori word for ‘angel’, used directly as a name.
- Origin: Māori
- Meaning: to help, to assist
- Popularity: Rare
Caring and gentle.
- Origin: Various (Japanese, Hebrew, Arabic, Kurdish, Persian, Hawaiian, Māori, Albanian)
- Meaning: varies by origin: ‘flower’ (Japanese), ‘grace/favor’ (Hebrew, via Hannah), ‘bliss’ (Arabic), ‘hope’ (Kurdish), among others
- Popularity: #708
- Origin: Māori
- Meaning: water maiden
- Popularity: Rare
Flowing and feminine.
- Origin: Māori
- Meaning: swamp harrier, hawk
- Popularity: Rare
It is the Māori name for the swamp harrier, a hawk.
- Origin: Māori form of Catherine (Greek origin)
- Meaning: pure
- Popularity: Rare
Bridges heritage and tradition.
- Origin: Māori; also European (short form of Cyril/Kyrillos)
- Meaning: in Māori, ‘skin’ or ‘bark of a tree’; separately, a European short form of Cyril/Kyrillos (‘lordly’)
- Popularity: #7405
Famously borne by opera singer Dame Kiri Te Kanawa.
- Origin: Māori, form of Mary; also English place name
- Meaning: Māori form of Mary; separately an English word for a lake or pond
- Popularity: Rare
Common and warm.
- Origin: Hebrew, via Māori transliteration of Miriam
- Popularity: Rare
It is the Māori transliteration of the Hebrew name Miriam.
- Origin: Māori
- Meaning: an evergreen tree native to New Zealand
- Popularity: Rare
Earthy and unisex-leaning; borne by author Ngaio Marsh.
- Origin: Māori
- Meaning: the nikau palm tree
- Popularity: Rare
Tall, slender, and elegant; also used for boys.
- Origin: Maori
- Meaning: a sea maiden of Maori legend, linked to the reef off Napier, New Zealand
- Popularity: Rare
Romantic and mythic.
- Origin: Māori
- Meaning: to climb, ascend
- Popularity: Rare
It is the Māori verb ‘to climb’ or ‘ascend’, so the name carries an upward-movement meaning.
- Origin: Māori
- Meaning: peace, tranquility
- Popularity: Rare
It means ‘peace’ or ‘tranquility’ in Māori, and it is built on the word rangi.
- Origin: Māori
- Meaning: to float, rise, or be elevated
- Popularity: #14919
Lifted and free.
- Origin: Māori
- Meaning: flowing sea
- Popularity: Rare
Adventurous and poetic.
- Origin: modern English coinage (20th century)
- Popularity: #1735
- Origin: Māori
- Meaning: a native New Zealand songbird
- Popularity: Rare
It is the name of a native New Zealand songbird, so the name is a bird name used directly.
- Origin: Māori
- Meaning: good fortune, luck
- Popularity: Rare
A name that wishes good fortune from the start.
- Origin: Māori, from English Victoria
- Meaning: victory
- Popularity: Rare
It is the Māori form of the English name Victoria, which means ‘victory’.
- Origin: Māori
- Meaning: embrace, cherish
- Popularity: Rare
Tender and short.
- Origin: Māori
- Meaning: celestial female spirit or attendant (in Māori tradition)
- Popularity: Rare
Regal and uncommon.
- Origin: Māori
- Meaning: drifting mist
- Popularity: Rare
Atmospheric and gentle.
- Origin: Māori
- Meaning: waters of love
- Popularity: Rare
Lyrical compound name, lovely as is or shortened to Wai.
- Origin: Māori
- Meaning: maiden of form
- Popularity: Rare
It reads as ‘maiden of form’, with hine (‘girl’) as its first element.
- Origin: Tahitian
- Meaning: flower (the tiare gardenia, Tahiti’s national flower)
- Popularity: #12019
Floral and pan-Pacific.
- Origin: Māori, from English Jane/Jean
- Meaning: God is gracious
- Popularity: Rare
It is the Māori rendering of the English names Jane and Jean, which mean ‘God is gracious’.
Strong, Earthy Names for Boys
These names have weight and resonance — many are tied to chiefs, warriors, the land, or qualities of strength and steadiness.
- Origin: Māori
- Meaning: paramount chief, noble, leader
- Popularity: Rare
Commanding and noble.
- Origin: Māori (form of James)
- Meaning: supplanter (via James)
- Popularity: #7926
It is the unmacroned spelling of the Māori form of James, from Hebrew Jacob, meaning ‘supplanter’.
- Origin: Māori form of George (from Greek)
- Meaning: farmer, earth-worker
- Popularity: Rare
It is the Māori form of George, which comes from Greek and means ‘farmer’ or ‘earth-worker’.
- Origin: Māori
- Meaning: tribe, people; also ‘bone’
- Popularity: Rare
Foundational and short.
- Origin: Māori
- Meaning: red cloak; also the name of a Māori rainbow deity
- Popularity: Rare
It means ‘red cloak’ and is also the name of a Māori rainbow deity.
- Origin: Māori
- Meaning: kauri tree (a native New Zealand conifer)
- Popularity: #13206
Towering, ancient, and grounded.
- Origin: Māori
- Meaning: to care for, support, and show hospitality toward others
- Popularity: Rare
One of the most beloved Maori values made into a name.
- Origin: Sanskrit and/or Hawaiian/Polynesian (dual origin)
- Meaning: progenitor of humankind (Sanskrit) / bird (Hawaiian)
- Popularity: #5352
Free and quick.
- Origin: Hebrew, via Māori transliteration of Matthew
- Meaning: gift of God
- Popularity: Rare
Familiar and warm.
- Origin: Māori
- Popularity: Rare
Bridges cultures gently.
- Origin: Māori form of Nicholas (Greek)
- Meaning: victory of the people
- Popularity: Rare
It is the Māori form of Nicholas, a Greek name meaning ‘victory of the people’.
- Origin: Māori form of Paul (from Latin Paulus)
- Meaning: small, humble
- Popularity: Rare
Brief and dignified.
- Origin: Māori
- Meaning: tree, wood
- Popularity: Rare
Earthy and strong.
- Origin: Māori, Hebrew
- Meaning: Māori form of David, meaning ‘beloved’
- Popularity: Rare
Common, warm, and historic.
- Origin: Māori form of Thomas, from Aramaic
- Meaning: twin
- Popularity: Rare
Familiar across cultures.
- Origin: Māori form of Stephen, from Greek
- Meaning: crown, wreath
- Popularity: Rare
Classic with a Maori cadence.
- Origin: Polynesian (Maori word name)
- Meaning: warrior, brave, strong
- Popularity: #7667
It is a Māori word meaning ‘warrior’, ‘brave’ or ‘strong’, used directly as a name.
- Origin: Māori
- Meaning: Tū of the angry face
- Popularity: Rare
Powerful and uncompromising.
- Origin: Māori
- Popularity: Rare
- Origin: Māori
- Meaning: to wave, sway or fan
- Popularity: Rare
It is a Māori verb meaning ‘to wave, sway or fan’, so the name describes a movement.
- Origin: Multiple, unrelated: Māori / Spanish / Japanese
- Meaning: varies by culture: a Māori war-deity’s name, a Spanish short form of María Eugenia, or the Japanese word for ‘circle’
- Popularity: Rare
Maru is three unrelated names that share a spelling: a Māori war-deity, a Spanish short form of María Eugenia, and the Japanese word for ‘circle’.
- Origin: Māori
- Meaning: north wind
- Popularity: Rare
It means ‘north wind’ in Māori, and it is built on the word hau (‘wind’).
- Origin: Latin
- Meaning: of the sea
- Popularity: #4805
Tranquil and warm.
- Origin: Māori
- Meaning: fair son, pale son
- Popularity: Rare
Hyphenated and historic.
- Origin: Māori form of Mark (Latin Marcus)
- Meaning: dedicated to Mars
- Popularity: Rare
Sturdy and short.
Nature Names: Birds, Plants, and Creatures
Aotearoa’s native flora and fauna are unlike anywhere else, and many Maori names borrow directly from them.
- Origin: Māori
- Meaning: yellow; the native tree with golden-yellow flowers
- Popularity: Rare
Sunny and visually striking.
- Origin: Māori
- Meaning: native New Zealand pepper shrub with heart-shaped leaves, used in traditional medicine
- Popularity: Rare
Healing and herbal.
- Origin: Māori
- Meaning: New Zealand coastal tree with crimson flowers (Metrosideros excelsa)
- Popularity: Rare
Festive, bold, and crimson.
- Origin: Māori
- Meaning: rātā, a native New Zealand tree with crimson blossoms; also a legendary Māori ancestor-hero
- Popularity: Rare
It names a native New Zealand tree with crimson blossoms and also a legendary Māori ancestor-hero.
- Origin: Māori
- Meaning: tōtara tree (New Zealand podocarp)
- Popularity: Rare
Old, towering, and revered.
- Origin: Māori
- Meaning: New Zealand flax
- Popularity: Rare
Useful, woven, deeply tied to Maori craft.
- Origin: Māori
- Meaning: mānuka tree (New Zealand tea tree)
- Popularity: Rare
Famously healing; honey-sweet.
- Origin: Māori
- Meaning: New Zealand laurel tree (Corynocarpus laevigatus)
- Popularity: Rare
Earthy and warm.
- Origin: Māori
- Meaning: cabbage tree
- Popularity: Rare
It is the Māori name for the cabbage tree, so the name is a plant name.
- Origin: Māori
- Meaning: fantail bird
- Popularity: Rare
Quick, friendly, and beloved.
- Origin: Māori
- Meaning: morepork (native owl); sheltered
- Popularity: Rare
Wise and nocturnal.
- Origin: Māori
- Meaning: New Zealand wood pigeon
- Popularity: Rare
Plump, gentle, and iridescent.
- Origin: Māori
- Meaning: New Zealand forest parrot
- Popularity: Rare
Lively and chatty.
- Origin: Māori
- Meaning: night parrot (kākā + pō, ‘night’)
- Popularity: Rare
It is built from kākā and pō (‘night’), which gives the meaning ‘night parrot’.
- Origin: uncertain (possibly Hawaiian-inspired coinage)
- Popularity: #11717
Quick-witted and bold.
- Origin: Māori
- Meaning: stitchbird, sunbeam
- Popularity: Rare
Small, bright, and energetic.
- Origin: Māori
- Meaning: saddleback bird
- Popularity: Rare
It is the Māori name for the saddleback bird, so the name is a bird name used directly.
- Origin: Māori
- Meaning: New Zealand wattlebird (native forest bird)
- Popularity: Rare
Melodic and rare.
- Origin: Māori
- Meaning: albatross
- Popularity: Rare
Vast, soaring, faithful.
- Origin: Irish (place name); also Sanskrit (‘star’)
- Meaning: named after the Hill of Tara, ancient seat of Irish kings (the place name’s own root meaning is disputed); a separate Sanskrit-origin sense means ‘star’
- Popularity: #1021
It comes from the Hill of Tara, the ancient seat of Irish kings, and a separate Sanskrit-origin sense means ‘star’.
- Origin: Māori
- Meaning: yellow-eyed penguin
- Popularity: Rare
Endangered and beloved.
- Origin: Māori
- Meaning: peaks on the back
- Popularity: Rare
Ancient and tough.
- Origin: Māori
- Meaning: giant flightless cricket
- Popularity: Rare
Hardy and prehistoric; unusual but striking.
- Origin: Māori
- Meaning: bat
- Popularity: Rare
- Origin: Māori
- Meaning: fish
- Popularity: Rare
Elemental and short.
- Origin: Māori
- Meaning: whitebait (the juvenile common galaxias, a small native freshwater fish)
- Popularity: Rare
It names whitebait, the juvenile common galaxias, which is a small native freshwater fish.
Names Meaning Light, Joy, and Hope
These names skew bright and aspirational — beautiful for parents wanting a name that wishes joy or radiance onto their child.
- Origin: Māori
- Meaning: sky maiden
- Popularity: Rare
Lifting and ethereal.
- Origin: Māori
- Meaning: traditional woven cloak
- Popularity: Rare
Sheltering and ceremonial.
- Origin: Greek/Roman (mythological); also Māori
- 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
Maia is the mythological mother of Hermes in Greek myth and a Roman goddess whose name gave us ‘May’, and it is also a separate Māori word meaning ‘brave, confident’.
- Origin: Māori
- Meaning: greeting, acknowledgement
- Popularity: Rare
It is the Māori word for ‘greeting’ or ‘acknowledgement’, so the name is a ceremonial word.
- Origin: Māori
- Popularity: Rare
Bright and uplifting.
- Origin: Māori
- Meaning: hope, aspiration
- Popularity: Rare
Aspirational and clear.
- Origin: Māori
- Meaning: compassionate, showing love
- Popularity: Rare
Tender and rare.
- Origin: Māori
- Meaning: kingship; the Māori King Movement
- Popularity: Rare
- Origin: Māori
- Meaning: heart
- Popularity: Rare
It is the Māori word for ‘heart’, used directly as a name.
- Origin: Māori
- Meaning: steadfast; stout-hearted
- Popularity: Rare
Encouraging and warm.
- Origin: Māori
- Meaning: life force; vital essence
- Popularity: #9316
Spiritual and central to te ao Maori.
- Origin: Polynesian (mana); also documented as a Japanese feminine and Iranian/Persian unisex given name
- Meaning: power, prestige, spiritual authority
- Popularity: #6331
One of the most important concepts in Maori culture.
- Origin: Māori
- Meaning: kindness, care, grace
- Popularity: Rare
It is a Māori word meaning ‘kindness’, ‘care’ or ‘grace’, so the name is a virtue word.
- Origin: Māori
- Meaning: power of the heavens
- Popularity: Rare
Inspirational and lifted.
- Origin: Māori
- Meaning: calm, peace, tranquility
- Popularity: Rare
It is a Māori word for ‘calm’, ‘peace’ or ‘tranquility’, in a three-letter form.
- Origin: Hawaiian
- Meaning: righteousness, moral correctness, or balance
- Popularity: Rare
- Origin: Māori
- Meaning: true, just, upright
- Popularity: #17769
Principled and steady.
- Origin: Chinese
- Meaning: flower (or ‘splendid’, depending on the character used)
- Popularity: Rare
- Origin: Māori
- Popularity: Rare
- Origin: Māori
- Meaning: to weave
- Popularity: Rare
Perceptive and creative.
- Origin: Māori
- Meaning: energetic, industrious
- Popularity: Rare
Lively and bright.
- Origin: Chinese (variant of Tao)
- Meaning: the Way, path (as a variant spelling of Tao)
- Popularity: Rare
Unisex Names with Quiet Strength
Many Maori names are naturally unisex — they describe qualities or elements rather than gendered roles.
- Origin: Germanic/Scandinavian (also popularly linked to Hawaiian)
- 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
Globally familiar, locally meaningful.
- Origin: Māori
- Meaning: cloak; harrier hawk
- Popularity: Rare
Sharp and graceful.
- Origin: Hawaiian
- Meaning: warrior, courage; also the name of a native Hawaiian tree
- Popularity: #292
Cross-Polynesian and bright.
- Origin: Maori
- Meaning: guardian spirit figure
- Popularity: #8735
Mythic and protective.
- Origin: Japanese
- Popularity: #6823
Tiny and flowing.
- Origin: Hebrew
- Meaning: movement, motion
- Popularity: #253
- Origin: Māori
- Meaning: good, excellent
- Popularity: Rare
It is the Māori word for ‘good’ or ‘excellent’, so the name is a short quality word.
- Origin: Māori
- Meaning: to cling or stick close
- Popularity: Rare
Affectionate and short.
- Origin: Māori
- Meaning: voice, language
- Popularity: #6092
Expressive and rare.
- Origin: Māori
- Meaning: two
- Popularity: Rare
Numeric and grounded.
- Origin: Vietnamese and Polynesian
- Meaning: talent (Vietnamese tài); sea or tide (Polynesian tai)
- Popularity: #2409
Tai is a homonym across two language families: Vietnamese tài means ‘talent’, while Polynesian tai means ‘sea’ or ‘tide’.
- Origin: Māori
- Meaning: to cry, weep, mourn; also a lament or funeral rite
- Popularity: #7471
Emotional and resonant.
- Origin: Chinese (Mandarin)
- Meaning: the Way, the path (Taoist concept, from 道 dào)
- Popularity: #9733
Sharp and short.
- Origin: Māori
- Meaning: great love, much love
- Popularity: Rare
Often used as a closing phrase, also as a sweet given name.
How to Choose a Name From This List
The first thing to do is say each name out loud — slowly, and a few times. Te reo Maori is built for the ear, and a name that looks beautiful on a screen might not be the one that feels right when you’re whispering it to a newborn at 3 a.m. Pay attention to how it sits in your mouth and how it sounds called across a room.
Next, sit with the meaning. Maori names carry intention in a way that few naming traditions do — they’re often little wishes or descriptions woven into a word. Choose a name whose meaning genuinely speaks to you or to a hope you have for your child. “Aroha” hits differently when you’ve thought hard about what kind of love you want to surround them with.
Consider the cultural context, especially if your family doesn’t have Maori heritage. Using a te reo name is generally welcomed when done respectfully — that means learning to pronounce it correctly (no anglicizing), understanding what it means, and being able to share its story when people ask. Avoid sacred or chiefly names (like Hinenuitepō or Tūmatauenga) unless you have a deep connection to them, and lean toward names that describe nature, qualities, or feelings if you want something safer and still beautiful.
Finally, think about pairing. Maori names range from very short (Wai, Toi, Tau) to long and ceremonial (Hinepukohurangi, Tāwhirimātea). A long first name often loves a short middle name, and vice versa. Saying the full name out loud — first, middle, last — is the truest test.
Trust your gut. You don’t need every relative to love it. You need to love it.
Name Art for Your Favorite
Love a name from this list? MinimalistMama offers custom Name Art prints — personalized, minimalist nursery art with the name you choose, designed to match your aesthetic. A perfect gift for baby showers or to hang above the crib.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it appropriate to give a Maori name to a baby who isn’t Maori?
Generally yes, when done thoughtfully. Maori culture has a strong tradition of manaakitanga (generosity and hospitality), and te reo Maori names are increasingly given to non-Maori children worldwide. The key is to choose with respect: learn the correct pronunciation, understand the meaning, and avoid names of specific atua (gods), sacred mountains, or named historical chiefs unless you have a personal connection. Nature-based names and quality-based names (like Aroha, Marama, or Manaaki) are widely considered respectful choices.
How do I pronounce Maori names correctly?
Te reo Maori has just five vowel sounds — a (ah), e (eh), i (ee), o (oh), u (oo) — and they don’t change. A macron over a vowel (ā, ē, ī, ō, ū) means you hold the sound about twice as long. Every letter is pronounced, and stress usually falls on the first syllable. “Wh” is a soft “f,” “ng” is the soft nasal at the end of “singing,” and “r” is a quick tap of the tongue. With those rules, a name like “Whetūrangi” becomes “feh-TOO-rah-ngee,” and it suddenly makes sense.
What’s the difference between a Maori name and a Polynesian name?
Maori is one of many Polynesian languages, alongside Hawaiian, Samoan, Tongan, Tahitian, and others. They share common ancestral roots and many overlapping words — Moana, Tane, and Manu, for example, appear across multiple Polynesian languages with similar meanings. Te reo Maori names are specifically tied to Aotearoa New Zealand and Maori culture, and often reference local geography, flora, and ancestral history unique to that land.
Are macrons important when writing Maori names?
Yes — macrons (the line above vowels like ā, ē, ī, ō, ū) change pronunciation and sometimes meaning. “Keke” means cake; “kēkē” means armpit. For names like Tāne, Whetū, and Māori itself, the macron tells you to hold the vowel sound longer. If you’re naming a baby, including macrons on official paperwork is increasingly accepted in many countries and is the most respectful way to honor the language.
Which Maori names are most popular in New Zealand right now?
Recent years have seen names like Nikau, Mia (Māia), Aroha, Tane, Manaia, Mason, and Kahu rise in popularity in Aotearoa. Names tied to Matariki (the Maori New Year) have gained extra visibility since it became a public holiday in 2022 — Matariki itself, along with Whetū and Puanga, has become more common. The trend is toward shorter, more easily pronounceable names internationally, while longer ceremonial names remain treasured within Maori families.
Can I combine a Maori name with a non-Maori middle name?
Absolutely, and it’s very common — both within Maori families and beyond. A Maori first name with an English, Hebrew, or other middle name (or vice versa) is a beautiful way to honor multiple heritages. Many Maori families pair a te reo name with a Maori form of a Christian name (like Hēmi, Wiremu, or Mere) or with a name from another side of the family. The key is making sure the rhythm and sounds work together when said aloud.
What does it mean if a name has “Hine” or “Tama” at the start?
“Hine” means maiden, girl, or young woman, and “Tama” means son, boy, or young man. These prefixes appear in many compound Maori names — Hinemoa (maiden of the deep), Hinewai (maiden of the water), Tamatea (bright son), Tamanui (great son). They signal that the name is gendered and often connect the bearer to a specific place, element, or mythological figure.
Final Thoughts
Maori names invite you to slow down — to learn a new sound, hold an unfamiliar vowel, and think carefully about the story you’re handing your child. That’s not a small thing in a world where so much naming is reduced to scrolling through alphabetized lists. Whether you’re drawn to the quiet luminance of Marama, the warmth of Aroha, or the sky-piercing strength of Aoraki, you’re choosing more than syllables. You’re choosing a connection to land, language, and a way of seeing the world that’s been alive in Aotearoa for centuries. Whatever name finds you, may it carry your little one well.
Read next; 👦 200+ Tomboy Girl Names That Are Strong and Spirited 🎀 200+ Cool Girl Names That Are Effortlessly Confident 👦 200+ Boho Hippie Boy Names for a Free-Spirited Kid
📱 The Baby Names app is here
Swipe names, match with your partner the moment you both say yes, and claim a free Name Art print of your winner. Free to download. See all our apps →
✨ Love these names? Create free printable nursery art for any name →
