Which Hawaiian names are popular in Hawaii right now?
I read through the current list of top baby names in Hawaii and picked out as many traditional Hawaiian names as I could. Here they are, plus their definitions (and their missing ‘okinas!).
Popular Hawaiian Names for Girls
- Leilani, 19 baby girls, means “heavenly (lani) flowers/child (lei).”
- Mahina, 15, means “moon” or “moonlight.”
- Kalena, 13, means “the (ka) yellow (lena).” Yellow was once symbolic of the alii, Hawaii’s powerful royal class (source).
- Kaila, 11, means “style, fashion.”
- Hali’a, 9, means “sudden remembrance, memory.”
- Kai’a, 9, means “the (ka) fish (i’a).”
- Kailani, 8, means “heavenly (lani) sea (kai).”
- Keani, 7, means “the (ke) soft breeze (ani).”
- Mehana, 7, means “warmth, heat.”
- Hi’ilani, 6, means “held in the arms (hi’i) of heaven (lani).”
- Kailana, 6, means “calm (lana) sea (kai).”
- Kamaile, 6, means “the (ka) maile vine.”
- Lilinoe, 6, means “fine mist.”
- Malie, 6, means “calm.”
- Anuhea, 5, means “cool, soft fragrance.”
- Hi’ilei, 5, means “child (lei) held in the arms (hi’i).”
- Ilihia, 5, means “excited” or “awe-stricken.”
- Kawena, 5, means “the (ka) glow (wena).”
- Kealani, 5, means “heavenly (lani) whiteness (kea).”
- Lea, 5, is the name of a Hawaiian goddess.
- Mahealani, 5, means “sixteenth day of the lunar month; night of the full moon” (source).
- Nai’a, 5, means “dolphin.”
- Noelani, 5, means “heavenly (lani) mist (noe).”
The Honolulu Star-Advertiser said Malia (ranked 21st overall) was the most popular Hawaiian name for girls in 2013, but Malia is is just the Hawaiian form of the non-Hawaiian name Mary, so I didn’t include it. I didn’t include several other names (like Keoni, Hawaiian for “John”) for the same reason.
Popular Hawaiian Names for Boys
- Kai, 38 baby boys, means “sea.” Kai was the 19th most popular boy name overall in Hawaii last year.
- Kainoa, 21, means “the (ka) namesake (inoa).”
- Kaimana, 20, means “power (mana) of the sea (kai).”
- Koa, 16, means “warrior, brave” or is a reference to the koa tree.
- Nainoa, 11, means “the (na) namesakes (inoa)” — na is the article used for plural nouns.
- Makoa, 10, means “fearless.”
- Nakoa, 10, means “”the (ne) brave ones/koa trees (koa).”
- Kana’i, 9, means “the (ka) conqueror (na’i).”
- Makana, 9, means “gift.”
- Ka’eo, 8, means “full of knowledge.”
- Kahiau, 8, means “generous.”
- Kainalu, 8, means “billowy (nalu) sea (kai).”
- Keanu, 8, means “the (ke) coolness (anu).”
- Noa, 8, means “commoner/free man.”
- Kaleo, 7, means “the (ka) sound/voice (leo).”
- Kamaha’o, 6, means “wondrous.”
- Kanoa, 6, means “the (ka) commoner/free man (noa).”
- Kekoa, 6, means “the (ke) brave one/koa tree (koa).”
- La’akea, 6, means “sacred (la’a) white/light (kea).”
- Makai, 6, means “toward (ma) the sea (kai).”
- Mana, 6, means “supernatural or divine power.”
- Alaka’i, 5, means “leader.”
- Kaiea, 5, means “rising (ea) sea/tide (kai).”
- Ka’imipono, 5, means “the (ka) seeker of righteousness (‘imi pono).”
- Kalani, 5, means “the (ka) heavenly one/royal one (lani).”
- Kamakani, 5, means “the (ka) wind (makani).”
- Koamalu, 5, means “brave (koa) peace (malu).”
While I was gathering all those definitions, I also found a bunch of other interesting Hawaiian names, such as…
- ‘Aukai, “seafarer” (‘au, “travel” + kai, “sea”). It’s like the Hawaiian version of Sailor.
- Kapi’ioho, “curly hair.” It’s like the Hawaiian version of Crispin (Latin crispus, “curly”).
- ‘Opunui, “big-bellied” (‘opu, “belly” + nui, “big”). Big bellies were a status symbol in old Hawaii. According to one source, “the elite lived lavishly, were feasting constantly, and the highest chiefs were distinguished by their corpulence.”
- Leiko is a hybrid Hawaiian-Japanese name: lei, “flowers/child” + ko, “child.”
Do you have a favorite Hawaiian name? Leave a comment and tell me about it!
Source: Bodley, John H. Cultural Anthropology: Tribes, States, and the Global System. Lanham, MD: AltaMira-Rowman & Littlefield, 2011.
