Browse Names - Behind the Name

Kiana 1 f Hawaiian, English
Hawaiian form of Diana. It was brought to wider attention in the late 1980s, likely by the Hawaiian fitness instructor Kiana Tom (1965-), who had a television show on ESPN beginning in 1988.

Kilikina f Hawaiian
Hawaiian form of Christina.

Kimo m Hawaiian
Hawaiian form of James.

Kiri f Maori
Means "skin of a tree or fruit" in Maori. This name has been brought to public attention by New Zealand opera singer Kiri Te Kanawa (1944-).

Maata f Maori
Maori form of Martha.

Maile f Hawaiian
From the name of a type of vine that grows in Hawaii and is used in making leis.

Makaio m Hawaiian
Hawaiian form of Matthew.

Malakai m Fijian, Tongan, English (Modern)
Fijian and Tongan form of Malachi, as well as a modern English variant.

Maleko m Hawaiian
Hawaiian form of Mark.

Malia f Hawaiian, English (Modern)
Hawaiian form of Maria. This name experienced a spike in popularity in 2009, due to the eldest daughter (born 1998) of the new American president Barack Obama.

Manaia f & m Maori
From the name of a stylized design common in Maori carvings. It represents a mythological creature with the head of a bird and the body of a human.

Marama f & m Maori, Polynesian Mythology
Means "moon" in Maori. This is the name of a moon god (or goddess) in Maori mythology.

Māui m & f Hawaiian, Polynesian Mythology
Meaning unknown. In Hawaiian mythology Māui was a trickster who created the Hawaiian Islands by having his brothers fish them out of the sea. He was also responsible for binding the sun and slowing its movement.

Mele f Hawaiian, Tongan, Samoan
Means "song" in Hawaiian. This is also the Hawaiian, Tongan and Samoan form of Mary.

Melika f Hawaiian
Hawaiian form of Melissa.

Mere f Maori, Fijian
Maori and Fijian form of Mary.

Mikaere m Maori
Maori form of Michael.

Mikala m Hawaiian
Hawaiian form of Michael.

Miriama f Fijian, Maori, Slovak
Fijian and Maori form of Miriam, as well as a Slovak variant.

Moana f & m Maori, Hawaiian, Tahitian, Samoan, Tongan
Means "ocean, wide expanse of water, deep sea" in Maori, Hawaiian and other Polynesian languages.

Ngaio f Maori
Maori name that is derived from the name of a type of tree, also called the mousehole tree. This name was borne by New Zealand crime writer Dame Ngaio Marsh (1895-1982).

Ngaire f Maori
Possibly from the name of the town of Ngaere in New Zealand, of Maori origin meaning "wetland".

Nīkau m Maori
From the name of a type of palm tree found in New Zealand (species Rhopalostylis sapida).

Nikora m & f Maori
Maori form of Nicholas or Nicole.

Noa 2 m Croatian, Hawaiian, French
Croatian and Hawaiian form of Noah 1, as well as a French variant.

Paora m Maori
Maori form of Paul.

Patariki m Maori
Maori form of Patrick.

Peni m Hawaiian
Hawaiian form of Ben.

Petera m Maori
Maori form of Peter.

Pika 1 m Hawaiian
Hawaiian form of Peter.

Piripi m Maori
Maori form of Philip.

Pomare m & f Tahitian
Means "night cough", from Tahitian pō "night" and mare "cough". This name was borne by four kings and a queen of Tahiti. The first king adopted the name after his child died of a cough in the night.

Rangi m Maori, Polynesian Mythology
Means "sky" in Maori. In Maori and other Polynesian mythology Rangi or Ranginui was a god of the sky, husband of the earth goddess Papa. They were locked in a crushing embrace but were eventually separated by their children, the other gods.

Ruiha f Maori
Maori form of Louisa.

Sione m Tongan, Samoan
Tongan and Samoan form of John.

Tamati m Maori
Maori form of Thomas.

Tāne m Maori, Polynesian Mythology
Means "man" in Maori. In Maori and other Polynesian mythology Tāne was the god of forests and light. He was the son of the sky god Rangi and the earth goddess Papa, who were locked in an embrace and finally separated by their son. He created the tui bird and, by some accounts, man.

Tavita m Samoan
Samoan form of David.

Tevita m Fijian, Tongan
Fijian and Tongan form of David.

Timoti m Maori
Maori form of Timothy.

Tipene m Maori
Maori form of Stephen.

Tui 1 f Maori
From Maori tūī, the name of a type of bird native to New Zealand (species Prosthemadera novaeseelandiae).

Viliami m Tongan
Tongan form of William.

Wikolia f Hawaiian
Hawaiian form of Victoria.

Wiremu m Maori
Maori form of William.

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