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These names occur in the mythologies and legends of the various islands of the Pacific.
Submitted names are contributed by users of this website. The accuracy of these name definitions cannot be guaranteed.
Aiaim & fHawaiian, Polynesian Mythology Aiai is a fisherman from Hawaiian mythology. Derived from a'ia'i meaning "bright, fair, clear" or 'ai'ai meaning "dependent" in Hawaiian.
ĀrohirohifPolynesian Mythology The name of the goddess of mirages and shimmering heat. Her name may be related to the word ārohi meaning "to scout, reconnoitre".
Ateam & fPolynesian Mythology, Polynesian Atea is a creator deity in several Polynesian cultures. Atea means "clear, white" in different Polynesian languages. Atea, a shapeless being, was the giver of light to the universe. This gave rise to Rangi and Papa, who's children eventually divided their parents into heaven and earth... [more]
KawaunuiaolafPolynesian Mythology A cunning woman from Hawaiian mythology who was left by her husband Ho'eu for another wife, but used trickery to make him return to her. From ka wa'u nui a ola meaning "the big itch of life".
Kiwam & fMaori (Modern), Polynesian Mythology Means "dark" in Māori. Kiwa is the male guardian of the ocean in Māori mythology. In Te Reo Māori the Pacific Ocean is also known as Te Moana nui a Kiwa meaning "The great ocean of Kiwa". Entered the top ten Māori baby names in 2021.
KoharafPolynesian Mythology Kohara is the goddess of tuna, and is considered the "mother of all tuna fish". The word also means "to throw a flash of lightning, as a deity". In Māori mythology, lightning begat tuna. In that sense, Kohara can be considered the "ancestor of tuna".
KulepemHawaiian, Polynesian Mythology Means "harelip, to split" and "a sudden blast of rain" in Hawaiian. Kulepe is mentioned in Hawaiian mythology. He is as a deceiver who pretended to be a king's soldier to obtain food from villagers.
Lakam & fPolynesian Mythology, Hawaiian (Rare) From laka meaning "tame". This is the name of a goddess of the hula and a god of canoe makers, and a legendary hero.
LeafHawaiian, Polynesian Mythology Goddess of canoe builders; wife of Ku-moku-hali'i; sister of Hina-puku-'ai; she takes the form of an 'elepaio (a forest bird)
LewalevufPolynesian Mythology The name of a fertility goddess in Fijian mythology, derived from lewa meaning "authority" and levu meaning "big, large".
LilinoefHawaiian, Polynesian Mythology From the word meaning "fine mist." A deity in Hawaiian mythology goes by this name, associated with Mauna Kea alongside Poliʻahu and Waiau.
LonafPolynesian Mythology Lona is a Hawaiian moon goddess. She fell in love with a married a mortal called ʻAikanaka. Lona and ʻAikanaka lived happily together until ʻAikanaka succumbed to old age.
LuʻukiafPolynesian Mythology, Hawaiian lu'ukia means "chastity belt" and "lashing" in Hawaiian. Lu‘ukia was a legendary chieftainess, sister of Kāwelu, wife of ʻOlopana, and lover of Mo‘ikeha.
MahinafHawaiian, Polynesian Mythology Means "moon, month" in Hawaiian, from Proto-Polynesian *masina. In Hawaiian mythology, Mahina is a lunar deity and the mother of Hema.
MakemakemPolynesian Mythology From the Rapa Nui mythology of Easter Island, was the creater of humanity and the god of fertility. A notable use of the name is for the fourth dwarf planet from the Sun and the third dwarf planet in the Kuiper Belt.
NāmakafPolynesian Mythology Means "the eyes" in Hawaiian from nā "the (plural)" and maka "eye". In Hawaiian mythology, Nāmaka was a sea goddess, the daughter of Haumea, and the sister of Pele and Hiʻiaka... [more]
Palilaf & mHawaiian, Polynesian Mythology, Tahitian Polynesian name for the Hawaiian honeycreeper, an endangered bird native to Hawai'i. In Hawaiian mythology, Palila, a grandchild of goddess Hina, is a warrior hero of Kauai. He killed warriors of Hamakua and became the ruling chief of Hilo... [more]
PaniafMaori, Polynesian Mythology Means "water" in Māori. Pania, often styled 'Pania of the Reef', was the Māori goddess of water, and is a symbol of the New Zealand city of Napier. A known bearer is Pania Rose (1984-), an Australian model of partial Māori descent.
PoliʻahufPolynesian Mythology The name of Hawaiian snow goddess and enemy of Pele. Her name is derived from poli meaning "bosom" and 'ahu meaning "garment, clothed".
PungamPolynesian Mythology Means "anchor stone" in Maori. In Maori mythology, Punga is a supernatural being who is the father of all ugly things.
ReareafPolynesian Mythology The goddess of joy in Tahitian mythology. Her name may come from reʻareʻa, meaning "yellow".
Rēingaf & mMaori, Polynesian Mythology Means "underworld" and "departing place of spirits" in Māori. Cape Reinga is the northern most place in New Zealand. In Māori mythology spirits of the dead would leap from Cape Reinga to enter the afterlife.
RongomPolynesian Mythology In New Zealand Maori mythology, Rongo is a major god of cultivated plants, especially kūmara. He was also an important god of agriculture and war in the southern Cook Islands.
SamulayomPolynesian Mythology In the mythology of Fiji, Samulayo is a god or spirit of war and those dead souls who died in battle. He lives in underworld.
SinafPolynesian Mythology, Samoan The name of a number of figures in Samoan mythology. It is derived from sina meaning "white" or "grey haired".
TahumMaori, Polynesian Mythology Means "to cook" and "sweetheart" in Māori. Tahu is the god of food and feasts, and the embodiment of the dining hall in Māori mythology.
TamateamMaori, Polynesian Mythology Means "the Moon, on the 8th night of a lunar month, first quarter lunar phase" in Maori. Tamatea Arikinui or Tamatea Mai-Tawhiti was a legendary Maori chieftain who captained the Tākitimu on its journey from the legendary place Hawaiki to New Zealand.
TaonouifPolynesian Mythology Etymology unknown. In Society Islands mythology, Taonoui is the mother of the stars.
TikokuramPolynesian Mythology "Storm-Wave". A Polynesian god of monstrous size and enormous power. He has an angry temperament which, without provoking, easily flares up.
Tumu-te-ana-oafPolynesian Mythology The personfication of echoes in Cook Islands mythology. Her name means "the cause of the call or voice heard from caves", from tumu meaning "cause", oa meaning "voice" and ana meaning "caves".
UmimPolynesian Mythology Umi-a-Liloa was a semi-legendary king from Hawaiian Mythology. Umi killed his older brother King Hākau. 'Umi means "tenth" in Hawaiian.
Vaeam & fTongan, Samoan, Tahitian, Polynesian Mythology Meaning unknown, though it likely means "king, prince, noble, chief" based on the fact that the meaning of Mapu 'a Vaea, natural blowholes in Houma on the island of Tongatapu in Tonga, is known to be 'Whistle of the Noble/Chief/King' in Tongan... [more]
Varima-te-takerefPolynesian Mythology Primordial mother goddess in Cook Islands mythology. Her name has been attested as meaning "goddess of the beginning" or "the mud at the bottom". It may be derived from vari meaning "mud" and takere meaning "bottom of a canoe".
Whaitirif & mMaori, Polynesian Mythology Means "thunder" in Maori. Whaitiri is the female personification of thunder in Maori mythology. She is a blind, cannibalistic goddess.