I’ve been on the Hawaiian island of Kauai for the past few days, and — in between checking out various canyons, waterfalls, and lava-rock pools — I scanned the Kauai phone book for cool first names.
Here are the most interesting I found:
Alouette Ariston Asipeli Benhur Bienvenido Bonifacio Buenaventura Buenoflora Butac Castro Charming Clisson Cobina Corazon Danalan Danvic Delpidio Dominador Edelwisa Ederline Eleuterio Emiteria Ercelly Estanislao Eufracio Eugemar Expedita Fakhry Filsann Flavra Florafina Flordeliz Framil Franchot Fredinita Fredlynn Fualupe Germilin Geronimo Gingerlynn Granatanne Guadencio Haunani |
Hedelisa Heifara Hermogenes Huilani Hulukape Ilaise Irvharc Iwalani Jhoane Judhvir Kai-nani Kalani Kananaikahaku Katalika Keikilane Keohokui Kilaina Kuuipo* Kuulei Laninbwij Laukona Leialoha Leimomi Leilani Leodigario Lichelle Linekona Lockwood Lodring Loisi Mariamagdalena Masanori Mavourneen Memory Michael-Michael Milimili Mimsy Mitsuji Monalisa Myloyce Nandanie Naokichi Nargis |
Nathrene Necoal Nolemana Norvin Olegario Oric Otusia Petroline Porfiria Primrose Puanani Rikito Rizal Rudra Rustico Sadhunathan Sailor Saturnina Scottland Shigenori Shyronjon Sioux Sojourner-Truth Surachat Texas Thanawat Tirunathan Tootsie Trinidad Trink Utahua Villamor Vitaliama Vrushali Waihang Waldemar Wannapha Warlito Watoru Welerico Wiphada Woonteng Zenichi |
The names in boldface are my favorites.
*Kuuipo is based on a Hawaiian word meaning “my sweetheart.” I’ve been seeing a lot of it in jewelry stores, engraved on rings, bracelets and pendants.
I think Castro is one of my favorites from this list. Thank you for providing the list!
You’re not the only one who likes the name Sojourner Truth. In fact, Sojourner Truth (c. 1797-1883), the African-American abolitionist, proto-feminist, and evangelical orator, liked it enough to claim it (at the age of 46) as her own. She was born into slavery as Isabella Baumfree, later took the surname Van Wagener (the name of her then most recent employer), and then, in 1843, finally decided upon Sojourner Truth and became an itinerant preacher.
Says Daniel Moos of Rhode Island College, “She took her freedom by simply walking away from [her slaveholder] Dumont’s property with her infant daughter, Sophia, in 1826 after Dumont broke his promise to free Isabella”.
She also had a son named Peter, who was illegally sold soon after this, and for whom Truth had to sue in order to win him back.