Maori Submitted Names - Behind the Name

MANUKA m Maori
A New Zealand name for the flowering shrub/tree whose scientific name is Leptospermum scoparium, famous for the strong honey produced from its blossoms. The tree gets its name from Maori tradition, because Manuka was the name of one of the great ocean-going canoes which brought the Maoris to New Zealand... [more]

MARAEA f Maori
Maori form of Maria.

MATAI m Maori

MATARIKI f Maori
Maori feminine name meaning "small eyes", the name of the Pleiades.

MĀTENE m Maori
Maori form of Martin.

MATIU m Maori
Maori form of Matthew.

MEREANA f Maori
Maori form of Mary Ann.

MIRIAMA f Maori, Fijian (Rare)
Maori and Fijian form of Mary.

MOHI m Maori
Maori form of Moses.

NASSAI f English (?), Maori (?)

NATARIA f Maori (Rare)

NEIHANA m Maori
Maori form of Nathan.

NGAHUIA f Maori

NGAWAIATA f Maori
Means "psalms" in Maoritanga.

NOA m Maori, Hawaiian, Tongan, Croatian, French
Hawaiian, Maori, French and Croatian form of Noah (1).

NUI m Maori
Means "large, abundant, of high rank, important" in Maori.

OMEKA m Maori

PAERAU m Maori

PAIKEA m & f Maori, Mythology, Popular Culture, Literature
In Maori legend, Paikea is the name assumed by Kahutia-te-rangi because he was assisted by humpback whales (paikea) to survive an attempt on his life by his half-brother Ruatapu. ... [more]

PANIA f Maori, Polynesian Mythology
Pania, often styled "Pania of the Reef", is a figure of Māori mythology, and a symbol of the New Zealand city of Napier.

PARE f Maori
Maori form of Polly.

PEATA f Maori
Of unknown meaning.

PETI f Maori
Maori form of Betty.

PIPI f Maori (Rare)
Maori form of Phoebe.

PIRIHIRA f Maori
Maori form of Priscilla.

PITA m Maori
Maori form of Peter.

RĀHERA f Maori
Maori form of Rachel.

RAHIRI m Maori

RAIHA f Maori

RANGINUI m Polynesian Mythology, Maori, Cook Islands Maori
Derived from Rangi and nui meaning "large, big, vast, great." This is another name for the Maori god of the sky.

RĀNIERA m Maori
Maori form of Daniel.

RAWIRI m Maori
Maori form of David.

RENĀTĀ m Maori
Maori form of Leonard.

REWI m Maori
Maori form of Louis, Dave and Levi.

RIPEKA f Maori
Maori form of Rebecca. It coincides with a Maori verb meaning "to crucify".

RIRIA f Maori
Maori form of Lily.

RIRIPETI f Maori
Maori form of Lilibeth.

RŌPATA m Maori
Maori form of Walter.

RUATAPU m Maori
Ruatapu tried to kill his half brother, Kahutia-te-rangi (who assumed the name Paikea) and drove him out, forcing him to survive by riding humpback whales to present day New Zealand

RUIHI f & m Maori
Maori form of Lucy, Louise and Louis.

RURU m Maori
Means "owl" in Maori.

RUTU f Maori (Rare)
Variant of Ruta.

SAIA m Tongan, Maori (?)

TAHU m Maori (?)

TAIKA m Maori
Means "tiger" in Maori.... [more]

TAINE m Maori
Taine Maori God of forest and light

TAINI f Maori (Rare)
This is the name of Taini Morrison who was a Maori arts performer in New Zealand.

TAMAKI m Maori
Maori name meaning the Auckland area of New Zealand.

TANGIORA f & m Maori

TARIU m Maori
Maori form of Thaddeus.

TAURAU m Maori

TAWERA m & f Maori

TEMUERA m Maori
Transferred use of the surname Temuera.

TEORI m & f Maori

TĒPENE m Maori
Maori form of Stephen.

TERANGIMARIA m & f Maori

TIAHO f Maori
Means "shining" or "shine" in Maori.

TIATEATA f Indonesian, Maori, Polynesian

TOROA f & m Maori
Derived from Maori toroa "albatross", ultimately from Maori toro "to stretch; to extend".

TUARI m & f Maori

TUI f & m Maori
Tui is the Maori name for the bird (Prosthemadera novaeseelandiae), which are easily identified for their small tuft of white feathers at the neck.... [more]

TUROA m Maori, History

WAATA m Maori
Variant of Wāta.

WAITARA f Maori
Derived from the Maori waitara, possibly meaning "mountain stream" or "pure water".

WĀTA m Maori
Maori form of Walter.

WIKITŌRIA f Maori
Maori form of Victoria.

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