hawaiian names

Meanings of Names

Genuine Hawaiian names are unisex. Their meanings are often symbolic. Mist and coolness symbolize happiness in a warm climate. Lei means a child, because a beloved child is carried like a lei on the parent's shoulders. A child can also be a flower or a bud, regardless of its sex. Modern parents tend to be more prosaic, calling a child a child, as in Keikilani and Kamalani.

For many Hawaiian words, the ʻokina ( glottal stop ) and kahakō (macron to denote a long vowel) are important to the meaning of a word. They are often ignored in English texts,or ʻokinas added where they don't belong. Therefore, included here are definitions for words used as names without the traditional marks.

History of Namegiving

Old Hawaiians coined a new name for each child, with careful thought of its meaning. Children could be named after relatives, but names were not copied from other families. Surnames did not exist. In 1860 Kamehameha IV signed the Act to Regulate Names. Hawaiians were to take their father's given name as a surname, and all children born henceforth were to receive a Christian ,i.e. English, given name. Hawaiian names were transferred into middle names. The law was not repealed until 1967.

After the annexation of Hawaii to the U.S., knowledge of the Hawaiian language deteriorated. Grandparents could give traditional names to the next two generations, but a baby born into a Hawaiian family in the 2000's is very unlikely to have any native speaker relatives. The English-speaking environment creates a pressure to melt Hawaiian names into the Western naming system, as an established set of phonemes chosen for their pleasant exotic sound rather than their meaning. Phonetic renderings of Western names, such as Malia and Keoni, have become names in their own right. The film industry produces pseudo-Hawaiian names, from Aloma of the South Seas (1926) to Lilo&Stitch (2002).

Popularity Surveys

This information is based on a survey of Hawaiian given names of persons born in 1900-1989 and 2000-2005, from obituaries in Honolulu Advertiser and Honolulu Star Bulletin 1994-2004, and samples of births and marriages on O'ahu in Honolulu Star Bulletin 2000-2005. It's a small sample with an uneven age distribution, and centered on O'ahu. But no one else seems to have researched the subject at all.

The 3,750 persons in the survey had a total of 1,996 different names.418 of these names had eight or more syllables (up to 44).The proportion of long names was diminishing but it took an upward turn in 2000-2005. Hawaiian names were given as middle names until the 1960's. Even today, middle names outnumber first names by four to one. A minority of parents have started giving nothing but Hawaiian names to their children. In recent births registered on O'ahu,about 25 % of girls and 15 % of boys received at least one Hawaiian name.

Many favorite names a hundred years ago, like Kealoha, Kalei, Leialoha,and Keonaona, were popular with both sexes. Today, the trendiest names are different for girls and boys. 31 % of women but only 11 % of men had names ending in -lani. 46 % of men but only 33 % of women had names beginning with the definite article Ka-/Ke-.

Leilani was the absolute favorite name for women in this survey. Other popular women's names included:

• 1900-1939: Kuʻulei, Leinaʻala, Leialoha, Leinani, Leimomi
• 1940-1969: Puanani, Leialoha, Haunani, ʻIwalani, Uʻilani,Ululani
• 1970-1989: Malia, Kēhaulani, Kuʻuipo, Maile, Noelani, Puanani
• 2000-2005: Malia, Noelani, Māhealani, Kuʻuipo, Alana, Keikilani

Kalani was a reasonably popular men's name in all age groups. Other popular names for men included:

• 1900-1939: Kealoha, Kalei, Kamaka
• 1940-1969: Keʻala, Kāwika, Kanani, Kameāloha
• 1970-1989: Ikaika, Kāwika, Alika, Keola
• 2000-2005: Kai, Kekoa, Kainoa, Ikaika, Kaimana, Keoni, Makana, Nāinoa

The numbers in parentheses after each entry below tell how many times the name appeared in the survey ( f = female, per 2039; m = male, per 1711). All names with at least 5 bearers were included. (-) means that the name did not appear at all.

The Social Security Administration gives out annual lists of the top hundred names for boys and girls in the State of Hawaii, starting from the year 1960. They are based on first names while a Hawaiian name usually comes second. A few Hawaiian names make it into these lists every year and they are all noted in the entries below.

List of Hawaiian names

A

• Akana – Common Hawaiian surname derived from Cantonese informal prefix "Ah" plus some personal name. Used as a given name probably for family reasons. (2f,2m)
• Akela – (F) Hawaiian for "Adele" (2f )
• Alakaʻi – "Leader" (3m) Variant: Kealaka'i (1m)
• Alana – "Awakening".Also Hawaiian for Alan and its feminine form Alana. Included in the top hundred names 1985-2005. (11f,1m)
• ʻAlani – "Orange tree or fruit" :NOTE: alani is a type of brown seaweed (Dictyota), an upland tree (Pelea), or a type of moss. (Alani/ʻAlani 2f)
• Alapaʻi – Listed as the Hawaiian form of Alfred, but this is a pre-contact, unisex name. (2f,1m)
• Aliʻi – "Chief" (5m)
• Aliʻikai – "Queen or king of the sea" (1f)
• Alika – (M) Hawaiian form of Alex and Alexander. Included in the top hundred names 1998. (9m)
• Aloha – "Love" (4f, 2m)
• ʻAlohilani – "Heavenly brightness". Name of a mythical land. (6f,1m)
• Amoe – (F) Hawaiian form of Cantonese Amoy (Ah Mooi) "younger sister". (2f)
• ʻĀnela – (F) "Angel" or Hawaiian for Angela. Included in the top hundred names 1998-2005. (8f)
• Ānuenue – "Rainbow". (2f,1m)
• Anuhea – "Cool fragrance" (3f)
• Aolani– "Heavenly cloud" or "realm of heaven" (-) Variant: Keaolani (1f,1m)
• ʻAukai – "Seafarer" (3m) Variant: Ka'aukai (1m)
• ʻAulani – "Royal messenger, heavenly traveller" (6f,1m)
• ʻAuliʻi – "Dainty,neat" (1f)
• ʻAwapuhi – "Wild ginger(Zingiber zerumbet)". (-)

E

• ʻEhukai – "Sea spray" (4m) Variant: Kaʻehukai (-)
• Enoka – (M) Hawaiian for Enoch and Enos.(3m)
• ʻEwalani – (F) "Heavenly woman" (ʻEwa is Hawaiian for Eve, figuratively meaning "woman") (2f). An early twentieth century spelling was Evalani(4f)

H

• Haʻaheo– "Cherished with pride" (4m)
• Haleakalā – "House of the sun". For the crater of Maui,Haleakalā. (1f)
• Haliʻa – "Fond remembrance"

NOTE: halia could mean "slow" (1f)

• Hanalei – "Lei valley". Place name from Kaua'i also used as a Hawaiian form of Henry.(1m) The official Hawaiian form of Henry is Hanalē .(-)
• Hanohano – "Glorious". (2m)
• Haunani – "Beautiful snow" (10f) Variant: Kahaunani (-)
• Hauʻoli – "Happiness" (3f,6m)
• Healani – "Heavenly mist" (3f,1m)
• Hekili – "Thunder" (2m). Variant: Kahekili (2m)
• Hiapo – "First born". (2m)
• Hiʻiaka – Name of a goddess, Hiʻiaka,the favorite sister of Pele.(3f)
• Hiʻilani – "Held in the arms of heaven" (5f,1m)
• Hiʻilei – "Child carried in the arms" (3f)
• Hina – "Gray; prostrate". Hina is a moon goddess.(2f,1m)
• Hīnano – "Pandanus flower" (2m). Variant: Kahīnano (2f)
• Hiwahiwa – "Precious" (2f). Variant; Kahiwahiwa (1f,1m)
• Hōkū – "Star".E.g.singer Hōkū Ho.(1f)
• Hōkūlani – "Heavenly star" (10f,1m).Variants: Hōkūokalani (1f), Kahōkūokalani (3m).
• Hoʻokano – "Proud". (3m)
• Hoʻonani – "Adornment" (1f,1m)
• Hoʻopiʻi – "Ascent" (2m)
• Hualani – "Heavenly fruit" (3f,1m)
• Hūʻeu – "Mischievous".E.g.Big Island chiefs. (2m)

I

• ʻIhilani – "Sacred gift from Heaven" (1m,1f)
• Ikaika – "Strong". Included in the top hundred names 1980-1995.(1f,21m)
• ʻIlima – The flower of O'ahu (Sida fallax).(-) Variant: Nāʻilima (2f).
• Imaikalani – Name of a blind but victorious legendary chief. (2m)
• Ioane – (M)Hawaiian biblical form of John, often found in nineteenth-century documents. (2m)
• Iokepa – (M) Hawaiian form of Joseph.(4m)
• ʻIolana – (F) "To soar like a hawk", "soaring hawk".Also Hawaiian form of Yolanda. (2f)
• ʻIolani – "Royal hawk" .Name of Kamehameha II and Kamehameha IV,and of a palace and a school in Honolulu.(1f,1m)
• Ipo – "Sweetheart" or "lover" (2m)
• Ipolani – "Heavenly sweetheart" (2f). Variants: Kaipolani (-), Kuʻuipolani (1f).
• ʻIwalani – "Heavenly frigatebird(Fregata minor palmerstoni)",symbolic for "majestic beauty".(13f)

Ka

• Kaʻaumoana – "The seafarer" (1f,3m)
• Kaena – "Praised" (Kaena/Ka'ena 2f,3m)
• Kaʻena – "The red-hot glow" (Kaena/Ka'ena 2f,3m)
• Kāʻeo – "Full of knowledge" (4m)
• Kahalewai – "The prison; the treasury; the water house".A common surname, might have been chosen as a given name for family reasons.(2f,3m)
• Kahealani – "The heavenly mist" Included in the top hundred names 2005.(11f)
• Kahula – "The hula dancer" (3f)
• Kai – of or pertaining to "the sea" Included in the top hundred names for boys 1995-2005. (4f,26m)
• Kaia – "The sea", as a short form of some long name. The meaning of this name is uncertain. In old documents it might stand for Ka-i'a "the fish". (2f)
• Kaila– "Style", "fashion", "stylish". Kaila is also an American spelling variant of Kayla. Included in the top hundred names for girls 1999-2005. (4f)
• Kailani – "Sea and sky" or "Heavenly seas" (2f)
• Kaʻili – "The skin". Kāʻili "snatcher" was a war god. Kaili could mean "wrecked" or "inheritance", but spelled that way it is more probably a variant of Kaylee or Kylie.(Ka'ili/Kā'ili/Kaili 2f,1m)
• Kaʻilihiwa – "The black skin" (2f,1m)
• Kaʻilikea – "The fair skin", as of light-skinned Hawaiians. (1f,1m)
• Kaimana – "Diamond" or "sea filled with Mana " Included in the top hundred names for boys 1993-94, 1999-2005. (2f,12m)
• Kaʻimi – "Seeker" (1f,3m)
• Ka'imina'auao – "The seeker of knowledge".E.g.a sister of King Kalākaua who died in childhood.(2m).
• Ka'imipono – "The seeker of righteousness" (4m)
• Kaina – "Younger sister of a girl; younger brother of a boy" (2f,2m)
• Kainalu – "Sea wave" Included in the top hundred names for boys 1996-2005. (7m)
• Kainoa – "The namesake". For example, the grandson of John could be named John Kainoa or Kainoa John. Included in the top hundred names for boys 1991-2005. (14m)
• Kainoakupuna – "The namesake of one's grandparent" (2m)
• Kaiolohia – "Calm sea", figuratively " peace of mind" (1m)
• Kaipo – "The sweetheart" (2f,10m)
• Ka'iulani – "The royal sacred one".Ka'iulani was the last Crown Princess (8f)
• Ka'iupono – "Leader of the righteous".
• Kalā – "The sun". Kala means "free of sorcery";it is also the Hawaiian form of Sarah. (Kalā/Kala 3f,3m)
• Kalāhikiola – "The life-bringing sun"(1f,1m)
• Kala'i – "The peace" (2f,3m)
• Kalama – "The lama tree",endemic ebony (Diospyros), from which torches were made, hence figuratively "the torch, lamp, enlightenment". Kalama was the Queen of Kamehameha III.Common surname.(1f,3f)
• Kalani – "The sky or heavens; the royal chieftain". Included in the top hundred names for boys 1975-77 and occasionally in 1989-2005. (4f,48m)
• Kale – (M) Hawaiian form of Charles.
• Kale'a – "Joy,happiness," but also "orgasm". Kalea would mean "to choke". Usage of both names is quite recent. (Kale'a/Kalea 5f)
• Kalei – "The flower wreath" or "The child". A common first part of compound names. (4f,13m)
• Kaleialoha – "The beloved child" (4f,3m)
• Kaleikaumaka – "The child looked upon with love and pride"(1f,6m)
• Kaleinani – "The beautiful child" (4f,2m)
• Kaleiokalani – "The child of heaven" (2f,2m). Variant: Kaleilani (2f).
• Kalena – "Yellow". Also Hawaiian for "Karen" Included in the top hundred names 1999, 2003-2004.(3f)
• Kaleo – "The voice" (1f,9m)
• Kaleolani – "The heavenly voice" (4f,5m). Variants: Kaleōkalani(4m), Kaleookalani(1m).
• Kaleponi – "California", presumably for birth there.(2f)
• Kali – "Hesitation" or "Wait" (usually part of a compound name) (2f)
• Kalia – Name of a native tree(Elaeocarpus bifidus). (4f)
• Kaliko – "The bud" (2f,2m) Variant: Liko (-)
• Kalili – Name of a native violet, also known as nani-Wai'ale'ale (Viola kauaensis). (2f,1m)
• Kalua – "The second one", but also "the pit,outhouse,toilet".Common surname.(2f,3m)
• Kaluhi – "The carefully tended one."(2m)
• Kamaile – "The maile vine" (3f,2m)
• Kamaka – "The beloved one" .Common surname.(3f,5m)
• Kamakanamaikalani – "The gift from heaven". New type of name that can be used to translate Jonathan, Nathaniel, Theodore or Dorothy. (2f,1m). Variants: Kamakanamaikeakua(1m), Kamakanaokalani(1m).
• Kamāla – "The garden". NOTE: Kamala means "aching,sour".(4f)
• Kamalani – "Royal child" Included in the top hundred names for girls many times during 1996-2005. (4f)
• Kamalei – "Beloved child" (6f,3m)
• Kamalu – "The shade; the protected one" (2f,1m)
• Kamea – "The one and only" "The thing" (-)
• Kamea'i'omakamae – "The truly precious thing" (1f,1m)
• Kameāloha – "The beloved one" (2f,4m)
• Kamila – "Camellia" (3f)
• Kamuela – (M) Hawaiian form of Samuel (10m)
• Kana'i –"The conqueror" (3m)
• Kanani – "Beauty, glory". Common first part of compound names. Included in the top hundred names for girls 1982,2002. (14f,6m)
• Kāne – "Male". One of the four leading gods,a benevolent god of creation. NOTE:Kane is an English name and means a skin disease in Hawaiian. (Kāne/Kane 4m).
• Kaniela – (M) Hawaiian form of Daniel (5m)
• Kanoa – "The free one,commoner" (1f,4m)
• Kanoelani – "The heavenly mist" (5f,1m)
• Kanoelehua – "The lehua flower mist" (3f)
• Kāpena – "Captain". Included in the top hundred names for boys 1988.(-)
• Kāpiʻioho – "Curly hair" (1f,2m)
• Kapiʻolani – "The heavenly arch",i.e. the rainbow. Kapiʻolani was the Queen of King Kalākaua. (4f)
• Kapono – "The righteousness" or "the goodness" (1f,4m)
• Kapua – "The flower" A common first part of compound names.(1f,2m)
• Kapulani – "Chiefly taboo" (1f,2m)
• Kapuni – "The favorite".(1f,2m)
• Kaʻuhane – "The soul" (5m)
• Kauʻi – "The youth,the beauty" (4f,1m)
• Kauʻionālani – "The beautiful youth of heaven".(4f).Variants: Kau'iokalani (1f), Kau'ilani (2f,1m)
• Kaulana – "Famous" (1f,4m)
• Kawai – "The water" (2f,4m)
• Kawailani – "The heavenly water" (5f,1m)
• Kawehionāpua – "The adornment of flowers".(2f)
• Kawelo – "The family trait". A legendary chief of Kaua'i. (2m)
• Kawena – "The glow" .E.g. Mary Kawena Puku'i. Included in the top hundred names 2005. (4f)
• Kāwika – (M) Hawaiian form of David. Included in the top hundred names 1976-99,2003. (22m)
• Kawohikūkapulani – "The high-born chief(ess) surrounded by royal taboo".(-)

Ke

• Keahi – "The fire" .Common surname.(2f,4m)
• Keaka – "The shadow,reflection". Also Hawaiian form of Jack.(2f,1m).
• Keala – "The pathway". (Ke'ala/Keala 7f,10m)
• Keʻala – "The fragrant".E.g. Kumu Franklin Leonard Ke'ala Kwan. (Ke'ala/Keala 7f,10m)
• Kealani – "Heavenly whiteness" (4f)
• Kealiʻi – "The chief,nobleman". A common first part of compound names. (10m)
• Kealiʻiʻaukai – "The sea-faring chief". (1f,1m). Names with similar meaning: Keli'i'aukai (1m), Keli'iholokai (1m), Keali'iokekai (1m).
• Kealoha – "Love".Also a common surname. (9f,20m)
• Kealohalani – "Heavenly love, mercy" (3f,3m) Variants: Alohalani (3f),Kealohaokalani (1f), Kealohaonālani (1f).
• Kealohapau'ole – "Love never ending" (4f)
• Keʻalohilani – "The heavenly brightness". Name of a mythical land, and of a star. (9f,1m)
• Keanu – "The coolness". e.g. actor Keanu Reeves Included in the top hundred names 1993-2005. (7m)
• Keao – "The daylight; the cloud" (2f,2m)
• Keawe – "The thread". Name of ancient Big Island chiefs. (6m)
• Kēhau – "Dew". Name of a gentle land breeze. (2f,1m)
• Kēhaulani – "Heavenly dew". Included in the top hundred names 1997. (19f,2m)
• Kēhaunani – "Beautiful dew" (2f,1m)
• Keikilani – "Heavenly child" (9f) Variants: Keikiokalani (1f,1m),Keikionālani (1f).
• Keilani – "Heavenly glory" (2f)
• Kekoa – "Brave; the soldier; the koa tree" Included in the top hundred names 1979 and almost every year during 1986-2005. (1f,22m)
• Kekona – "Second" (time unit). More probably Ke-kona "the leeward wind" (1f,2m)
• Keliʻi – "The chief", contraction of Keali'i. A common first part of compound names and surnames. (13m)
• Keoki – (M) Hawaiian for "George"(3m)
• Keola – "Breath of Life" Included in the top hundred names for boys 1974,1978-79,1981. (2f,17m)
• Keona – "The attractive one",but also "the mite,louse".(4f,4m)
• Keonaona – "The soft fragrance" (5f,4m)
• Keone – "The sand", poetically "homeland". (3m)
• Keoni – (M) Hawaiian vernacular form of John. Included in the top hundred names almost every year in 1977-2005. (19m)
• Kepano – (M) Hawaiian for Stephen.(1f,2m)

Ki,Ko,Ku

• Kiana – (F) Hawaiian form of Diana. E.g.author Kiana Davenport.Included in the top hundred names 1983,1989-2005. (8f)
• Kiani – "Gently waving" Included in the top hundred names for girls 2002. (3f)
• Kiele – "Gardenia; fragrance.".The Tahitian cognate, Tiare, is a common girls' name in Hawaii.(1f)
• Kilohana – "Superior"(2m)
• Kimo – (M) Hawaiian form of James (6m)
• Kina – (F) "China(the country)." Hawaiian form of Dinah,Tina and Gina. (1f)
• Kini – "Multitude". "King",as a loan word and a surname. Also Hawaiian form of Jane,Jean,Jennie,Gene and Dean. (2m)
• Koa – "Warrior; the koa tree" (6m)
• Kona – "Leeward",name of a famous wind. Also Hawaiian form of Don and Donna. (1f,1m)
• Kōnane – "Bright moonlight" (2f)
• Konapiliahi – "Strong" (3m)
• Kū – "Upright". One of the four great gods, best known as the god of war. (2m)
• Kūaliʻi – "Chief-like, kind". Name of an ancient chief. (2f,1m)
• Kukunaokalā – "Ray of the sun; the mangrove" (1f,1m)
• Kuʻualoha – "My love" (3f,4m)
• Kuʻuʻānelalani – "My heavenly angel" (1f). Variants: Ku'u'ānelaokalani (1f), ʻĀnelalani (1f).
• Kuʻuipo – "My Sweetheart" (21f,2m)
• Kuʻulei – "My lei",figuratively "beloved child". (28f,1m)
• Kuʻuleialoha – "My beloved child" (6f)
• Kuʻuleilani – "My heavenly lei or child" (5f,1m)
• Kuʻuleinani – "My beautiful child" (5f)

L

• Laʻakea – "Sacred light" (4m)
• Lahapa – Hawaiian form of Rahab.Possibly also of Hawaiian origin, since it occurs in compound names. (3f).
• Lāhela – (F) Hawaiian for "Rachel".(6f)
• Lana – "Afloat" or "Calm as still waters" (1f)
• Lanakila – "Victory" (1f,2m)
• Lani – "Sky,heavenly",figuratively "chiefly,royal". Also a common nickname for the numerous names ending in -lani,-okalani,-onālani,or(a recent innovation)-maikalani. Included in the top hundred names for girls 1961,1975. (15f,4m)
• Lea – (F) Lea, a mythological goddess of canoe builders. (1f)
• Lehua – The lehua flower (ʻōhiʻa lehua), figuratively "warrior,friend, expert".(10f,2m) Variant: Kalehua (3f,1m)
• Lehuanani – "Beautiful lehua" (2f)
• Lei – "Wreath of flowers",figuratively "a child" (14f,1m)
• Leialoha – "Beloved child" (25f,4m)
• Leihua – "Globe amaranth (Gomphrena globosa),literally "fruit lei". (2f)
• Leiko – (F)Hawaiian-Japanese hybrid name "lei child", given to women of Japanese ancestry born in the Hawaiian Islands.(6f)
• Leilani – "Heavenly lei",figuratively "royal child" Included in the top hundred names 1961-63 and 1967-2005.(111f,3m)
• Leilehua – "Lei of lehua flowers; talented child". (1f,2m) Variant: Kaleilehua (1m), Nāleilehua (1f).
• Leimamo – "Lei of mamo feathers", figuratively "rare and precious child".(2f,1m) Variant: Kaleimamo (1m)
• Leimomi – "Pearl necklace" (19f) Variants: Kaleimomi (2f), Ku'uleimomi (3f)
• Leinaʻala – "Gust of fragrance" (29f)
• Leinani – "Beautiful child" (11f,1m)
• Leolani – "Heavenly voice".Le'olani would mean "chiefly height". (3f,2m)
• Lī – "Chill". Fairly recent use as a middle name suggests that Li could also be a variant of Lee .(3f,1m)
• Līhau – "Cool and fresh" Name of a gentle rain. (3f)
• Likeke – (M) Hawaiian form of Richard (4m)
• Līlia – "Lily", a loan word. (3f)
• Lilinoe – "Fine mist".A goddess of mists. (4f)
• Lilo – (F) "To be lost".Lilo & Stitch is a Disneyworld invention. The name has not been used in Hawaii. (-)
• Lokelani – "Heavenly rose" (11f.) An early twentieth century spelling was Roselani(4f)
• Lono – "News, remembrance". God of agriculture and fertility.(1f,1m)
• Lopaka – (M) Hawaiian form of Robert. (6m)
• Luana – "Content, at ease". Name of a fictitious princess in the play/film "Bird of Paradise" 1912/1932. (7f)
• Luka – Hawaiian form of Ruth and Luke. (1f,2m)

M

• Māhealani – "Heavenly haze; full moon night".E.g.Brook Māhealani Lee,Miss Universe 1997. Included in the top hundred names for girls 1998-99, 2002. (17f,2m)
• Mahina – "Moon" or "Moonlight". Included in the top hundred names 2003. (3f)
• Maile – "The maile vine",appearing as four sweet-scented sisters in legend. Included in the top hundred names 1967-2005. (20f)
• Maka – "Eyes",figuratively "beloved".(2f,1m)
• Makai – "Seaward". Recent usage.(1f,2m)
• Makamae – "Precious" (4f,1m)
• Makana – "Gift" Included in the top hundred names for boys in 2000,2002,2004. (5f,7m) Variant: Kamakana (3m)
• Makani – "Wind" (2f,1m) Variant: Kamakani (2m)
• Makanui – "Big eyes",figuratively "important, greatly loved".(1f,2m)
• Makoa – "Fearless" Included in the top hundred names for boys 2002. (5m)
• Mālama – "To take care of; fidelity". Malama means "light" or "moon". (Mālama/Malama 1f)
• Maleka – (F) Hawaiian form of Martha.(4f)
• Malia – (F) Hawaiian biblical form of Mary. Included in the top hundred names 1965-2005. (42f)
• Mālie – "Calm". (1f)
• Malina – "Calming" or "soothing" (2f)
• Maluhia – "Peace".(2f). Variant: Kamaluhia (1m).
• Malulani – "Heavenly shade or protection" (3f,1m) Variants: Kamaluokalani (1f),Kamaluonālani (1f).
• Mana – "Supernatural power,mana."(2f,2m) Variant: Kamana (1m)
• Manu – "Bird" (1f,2m)
• Manuia – E.g. an ancient chief. (3m)
• Māpuana – "Fragrance" (8f,1m)
• Māui – From the demigod, Māui (2m)
• Mele – (F) Hawaiian vernacular form of "Mary" Also a Hawaiian word "song,chant" (3f)
• Melia – "Plumeria" Included in the top hundred names 2000-2001. (2f)
• Miki – "Quick" or "nimble" (-)
• Mililani – "Caressed of heaven,favorite" (5f)
• Moana – "Ocean" (8f,4m)
• Moani – "Fragrant breeze" (3f)
• Moanike'ala – "The fragrance is wind-blown" (1f)
• Mokihana – Name of the flower of Kaua'i,with berries strung into leis.(5f)
• Momi – "Pearl" (6f,1m)
• Momilani– "Heavenly pearl" (6f)

N

• Nai'a – "Porpoise" Included in the top hundred names for girls 2002. (1f,1m)
• Nāinoa – "The namesakes". Similar to Kainoa. E.g.navigator Nāinoa Thompson.Included in the top hundred names 1994, 1998-2002.2005. (12m)
• Nālani – "The Heavens" Included in the top hundred names 2001.(10f,3m).
• Nanea – "Fascinating" Included in the top hundred names 2005. (3f)
• Nani – "Beauty" or "Splendor".Common ending of given names.(9f,1m).
• Nāpua – "The flowers" (3f,1m)
• Nāpualani – "The heavenly flowers" (5f)
• Noa – (M) "Freed of taboo; a commoner". Also Hawaiian form of Noah. Included in the top hundred names 2001. (2m)
• Noe – "Mist" or "misty rain" or "misty" (2f) Variant: Kanoe (1f).
• Noelani – "Mist of heaven" Included in the top hundred names 1980. (23f,1m)
• Nohea – "Handsome", "lovely" (4f,5m)
• Nohealani – "Beauty from Heaven" (3f)
• Nohelani – E.g. singer Nohelani Cypriano. (4f)

P

• Pahukula – "Golden casket".(1m) Variant: Kapahukula (-)
• Pauahi – "Consumed by fire; putting out a fire". Name of a star.Bernice Pauahi Bishop was the last heir to King Kamehameha. (4f,2m)
• Paulo – (M) Hawaiian form of Paul. (3m)
• Pi'ikea – "The life ascends". A chiefess of Maui.(3f,1m)
• Pi'ilani – "Heavenly ascent". A chief of Maui. (7f)
• Pilialoha – "Beloved companion" (1f,1m)
• Pōhaikealoha – "Love encircles" (1f,1m)
• Pōhaku – "Stone". Sometimes used as a translation of Peter. (2m)
• Pōmaika'i – "Good fortune" (2f,3m)
• Po'okela – "Outstanding" (4m)
• Pua – "Flower",figuratively "child". (4f,2m)
• Pualani – "Heavenly flower" (13f,1m).Variant with similar meaning: Kapuaokalani (2f,1m).
• Puamana – "Flower with branches,the horseweed; child with mana".(3f)
• Puanani – "Beautiful flower" (23f)
• Pumehana – "Warm-hearted". (2f)
• Puna – "Spring of water" (1f,1m)
• Punahele – "Favorite",literally "spring that goes on". (1f,2m)
• Pūnohu – "Rising mist". (1m)

U

• U'ilani – "Heavenly young beauty" (11f)
• Ululani – "Heavenly inspiration".An ancient chiefess. (15f)
• Uluwehi – "Lush and beautiful verdure" (4f). Variant: Kauluwehi (1f).

W

• Wailani – "Heavenly water" (1f)
• Waiola – "Water of life". Also Hawaiian form of Viola.(3f)Variant: Kawaiola (1f,1m)

References

• Eileen M.Root: Hawaiian Names - English Names.1987.Press Pacifica
• Mary Kawena Puku'i and Samuel H.Elbert: Hawaiian Dictionary.1986. University of Hawaii Press.

External links

• Find your name in Hawaiian
• Popular Baby Names by State
• Traditional Hawaiian Names
• Hawaiian Naming Practices