Hawaiian name

Ā A Hawaiian name is a name in the Hawaiian language. Such names are popular not only in Hawaiian families, but also among English speakers in Hawaiʻi, and even in the United States mainland among both non-native and native Hawaiians, especially in states such as Utah and California.

Meanings of Names

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. 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 The law was not repealed until 1967.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: Ku'ulei, Leina'ala, Leialoha, Leinani, Leimomi
1940-1969: Puanani, Leialoha, Haunani, 'Iwalani, U'ilani,Ululani
1970-1989: Malia, Kēhaulani, Ku'uipo, Maile, Noelani, Puanani
2000-2005: Malia, Noelani, Māhealani, Ku'uipo, 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: Ke'ala, 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

Akela – (F) Hawaiian for "Adele" (2f )
Alakaʻi – "Leader" (3m)
Alana – (F) "Awakening".Included in the top hundred names 1985-2005. (11f,1m)
Alani – "Orange tree or fruit" :NOTE: alani is a type of brown seaweed (Dictyota), an upland tree (Pelea), or a type of moss. (2f)
Ali'i – "Chief" (5m)
Aliʻikai – "Queen or king of the sea" (1f)
Alika – (M) Hawaiian form of Alexander. Included in the top hundred names 1998. (9m)
Aloha – "Love" (4f, 2m)
ʻAlohilani – "Heavenly brightness" (6f,1m)
ʻĀnela – (F) "Angel" or Hawaiian for Angela. Included in the top hundred names 1998-2005. (8f)
Anuhea – "Cool fragrance" (3f)
Aolani– "Heavenly cloud" or "realm of heaven" (-) Variant: Keaolani (1f,1m)
ʻAukai – "Seafarer" (3m)
ʻAulani – "Royal messenger" (6f,1m)

E

ʻEhukai – "Sea spray" (4m)
ʻEwalani – (F) "Heavenly woman" (ʻEwa is Hawaiian for Eve, figuratively meaning "woman") (2f). An early twentieth century spelling was Evalani(4f)

H

Haliʻa – (F) "Fond remembrance"

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

Ha'aheo – "Cherished with pride" (4m)
Haunani – "Beautiful snow" (10f)
Hau'oli – "Happiness" (3f,6m)
Healani – "Heavenly mist" (3f,1m)
Hekili – "Thunder" (2m). Variant: Kahekili (2m)
Hi'iaka – Name of a goddess, the favorite sister of Pele.(3f)
Hi'ilani – "Held in the arms of heaven" (5f,1m)
Hi'ilei – "Child carried in the arms" (3f)
Hina – "Gray; prostrate". Name of a moon goddess.(2f,1m)
Hīnano – "Pandanus flower" (2m). Variant: Kahīnano (2f)
Hiwahiwa – "Precious" (2f). Variant; Kahiwahiwa (1f,1m)
Hōkūlani – "Heavenly star" (10f,1m).Variant: Kahōkūokalani (3m).
Hualani – "Heavenly fruit" (3f,1m)

I

ʻIhilani – "Sacred gift from Heaven" (1m,1f)
Ikaika – "Strong". Included in the top hundred names 1980-1995.(1f,21m)
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" (1f,1m)
Ipo – "Sweetheart" or "lover" (2m)
ʻIwalani – "Heavenly frigate bird"(13f)

K

Ka'aumoana – "The seafarer" (1f,3m)
Kaena – "Praised" (Kaena/Ka'ena 2f,3m)
Ka'ena – "The red-hot glow"
Kā'eo – "Full of knowledge" (4m)
Kahalewai – "The prison; the treasury; the water house".A common surname, might have been chosen 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" Included in the top hundred names for girls 1999-2005. (4f)
Kailani – "Sea and sky" or "Heavenly seas" (2f)
Ka'ilihiwa – "The black skin" (2f,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" (1m)
Kaipo – "The sweetheart" (2f,10m)
Ka'iulani – (F) "The royal sacred one" Name of the last Crown Princess (8f)
Kalā – "The sun". Kala means "free of sorcery". (Kalā/Kala 3f,3m)
Kalāhikiola – "The life-bringing sun"(1f,1m)
Kala'i – "The peace" (2f,3m)
Kalama – "The light", "the torch","the lama tree" (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)
Kalena – (F) Hawaiian for "Karen" "Brightest Star" "Yellow" 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. (4f)
Kaliko – "The bud" (2f,2m)
Kalili – Name of a native violet. (2f,1m)
Kalua – "The second one", but also "the pit,outhouse,toilet".(2f,3m)
Kamaile – "The maile vine" (3f,2m)
Kamaka – "The beloved one" (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)
Kamea'i'omakamae – "The truly precious thing" (1f,1m)
Kameāloha – "The beloved one" (2f,4m)
Kamuela – (M) Hawaiian form of Samuel (10m)
Kana'i –"The conqueror" (3m)
Kanani – "Beauty, glory" Included in the top hundred names for girls 1982,2002. (14f,6m)
Kaniela – (M) Hawaiian form of Daniel (5m)
Kanoa – "The free one,commoner" (1f,4m)
Kanoelani – "The heavenly mist" (5f,1m)
Kāpena – "Captain". Included in the top hundred names for boys 1988.(-)
Kāpi'ioho – "Curly hair" (1f,2m)
Kapi'olani – "The heavenly arch". Name of 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)
Ka'uhane – "The soul" (5m)
Kau'i – "The youth,the beauty" (4f,1m)
Kau'ionālani – "The beautiful youth of heaven".(4f).Variant: 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)
Keahi – "Fire" (2f,4m)
Keala – "Pathway"
Ke'ala – "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)
Kealoha – "Love".Also a common surname. (9f,20m)
Kealohalani – "Heavenly love, mercy" (3f,3m) Variant: Alohalani (3f)
Kealohapau'ole – "Love never ending" (4f)
Ke'alohilani – "The heavenly brightness" (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" (2f,1m)
Kēhaulani – "Heavenly dew". Included in the top hundred names 1997. (19f,2m)
Kēhaunani – "Beautiful dew" (2f,1m)
Keikilani – "Heavenly child" (9f)
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)
Keli'i – "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 – "Attracted",but also "the mite,louse".(4f,4m)
Keonaona – "The soft fragrance" (5f,4m)
Keoni – (M) Hawaiian vernacular form of John. Included in the top hundred names almost every year in 1977-2005. (19m)
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)
Kimo – (M) Hawaiian form of James (6m)
Kina – (F) "China".Hawaiian form of Dinah,Tina and Gina. (1f)
Koa – "Warrior; the koa tree" (6m)
Kona – "Leeward",name of a famous wind. Also Hawaiian form of Don and Donna. (1f,1m)
Konapiliahi – "Strong" (3m)
Kūali'i – "Chief-like, kind" (2f,1m)
Kukunaokalā – "Ray of the sun; the mangrove" (1f,1m)
Ku'ualoha – "My love" (3f,4m)
Ku'uipo – "My Sweetheart" (21f,2m)
Ku'ulei – "My lei",figuratively "beloved child". (28f,1m)
Ku'uleialoha – "My beloved child" (6f)
Ku'uleilani – "My heavenly child" (5f,1m)
Ku'uleinani – "My beautiful child" (5f)

L

La'akea – "Sacred light" (4m)
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; friend, expert" (10f,2m) Variant: Kalehua (3f,1m)
Lei – "Wreath of flowers",figuratively "a child" (14f,1m)
Leialoha – "Beloved child" (25f,4m)
Leiko – (F)Hawaiian-Japanese hybrid name "lei child", given to women of Japanese ancestry born in the Hawaiian Islands.(6f)
Leilani – "Heavenly lei" or "royal child" Included in the top hundred names 1961-63 and 1967-2005.(111f,3m)
Leimomi – "Pearl necklace" (19f) Variants: Kaleimomi (2f), Ku'uleimomi (3f)
Leina'ala – "Gust of fragrance" (29f)
Leinani – "Beautiful child" (11f,1m)
Leolani – "Heavenly voice".Le'olani would mean "chiefly height". (3f,2m)
Līhau – "Cool and fresh" Name of a gentle rain. (3f)
Likeke – (M) Hawaiian form of Richard (4m)
Lilinoe – "Fine mist" (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" or "Happy" (7f)

M

Māhealani – "Heavenly haze; full moon night" 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" Included in the top hundred names 1967-2005. (20f)
Maka – "Eyes",figuratively "beloved".(2f,1m)
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)
Makanui – "Big eyes".(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)
Malina – "Calming" or "soothing" (2f)
Malulani – "Heavenly shade or protection" (3f,1m) Variants: Kamaluokalani (1f),Kamaluonālani (1f).
Mana – "Power"(2f,2m)
Manu – "Bird" (1f,2m)
Māpuana – "Fragrance" (8f,1m)
Maui – 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 – "Favorite" (5f)
Moana – "Ocean" (8f,4m)
Moani – "Fragrant breeze" (3f)
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, which see. 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".(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)
Noelani – "Mist of heaven" Included in the top hundred names 1980. (23f,1m)
Nohea – "Handsome", "lovely" (4f,5m)
Nohealani – "Beauty from Heaven" (3f)

P

Pauahi – "Consumed by fire; putting out a fire". Bernice Pauahi Bishop was the last heir to King Kamehameha. (4f,2m)
Pi'ikea – "The life ascends" (3f,1m)
Pi'ilani – "Heavenly ascent" (7f)
Pōhaikealoha – "Love encircles" (1f,1m)
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).
Puanani – "Beautiful flower" (23f)
Punahele – "Favorite" (1f,2m)

U

U'ilani – "Heavenly young beauty" (11f)
Ululani – "Heavenly inspiration" (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.