Kauʻi is a Hawaiian given name meaning "the youthful one", derived from the elements ka (the definite article) and uʻi ("youth, beauty"). It can also function as a standalone name or a hypocorism (short form) of longer compound names like Kauʻilani and possibly others that begin with Kauʻi.
The name reflects traditional Hawaiian appreciation for youth and beauty (uʻi), qualities highly valued in both personal names and poetic expressions. Despite being grammatically feminine (as indicated by the definite article ka), historical records show Kauʻi has been used for both genders. According to Hawaii State Archives, the name appears in 19th-century marriage records—spelled in the old orthography as 'Kaui'—for 43 women and 33 men, demonstrating its longtime unisex appeal.
Other Forms
A related feminine name is Uʻilani, meaning "heavenly beauty" (uʻi 'beauty' + lani 'heaven'), a variant focusing on aesthetic appreciation in a different conceptual framing.