Polynesian Names
These names occur in the mythologies and legends of the various islands of the Pacific.
13 names in our directory
Polynesian
13Haumea is a feminine name of Polynesian origin, primarily from Hawaiian mythology and culture. It means "red ruler" or "ruler of the red (earth)", derived from Hawaiian hau meaning "ruler" and mea meaning "reddish brown"...
Origin and Meaning Hiʻiaka is a Polynesian-derived name of Hawaiian origin, meaning "held essence", from hiʻi "hold, carry" and aka "essence, image, embryo". This name is associated with the Hawaiian goddess Hiʻiaka, the...
Hina is a feminine name of Polynesian origin, derived from a word meaning "grey, white, silver". In Polynesian mythology, Hina is a prominent goddess often associated with the moon, although her roles vary across differe...
Kāne is a Hawaiian name meaning "man," a cognate of Tāne. In Hawaiian mythology, Kāne is a prominent creator god and the highest of the three major deities, alongside Kū and Lono. Etymology The name is derived from Proto...
Kiwa is a name of Māori and Polynesian origin, primarily known as the guardian of the ocean in Māori mythology. The name itself means "dark" or "black" in the Māori language, a fitting association with the deep, dark wat...
Lilinoe is a Hawaiian name meaning "fine mist". In Hawaiian mythology, Lilinoe is the name of a goddess associated with Mauna Kea, the highest peak in Hawaii, where she is said to preside over the mists that often shroud...
Marama is a feminine given name of Māori and Polynesian origin. In the Māori language, the word marama means "moon, month", reflecting a deep cultural connection to celestial bodies. In Māori mythology, Marama is the nam...
Māui is a culture hero and trickster figure in Polynesian mythology, celebrated across many Pacific islands. The exact meaning of his name is unknown, but he is a central character in the oral traditions of Hawaii, New Z...
Papa (also known as Papatuanuku) is a significant name in Polynesian mythology, particularly within Maori culture. The name directly means "earth" in the Maori language. In Polynesian creation narratives, Papa is the pri...
Pele is a name of Polynesian origin, most famous as the name of the Hawaiian goddess of volcanoes and fire. Her full name is Pelehonuamea, meaning "she who shapes the sacred land." According to Hawaiian mythology, Pele i...
Rangi (also known as Te Rangi) is a Māori given name meaning "sky." In Māori and other Polynesian mythologies, Rangi (or Ranginui) is the sky father, a primordial god who, together with the earth mother Papa (Papatūānuku...
Tāne is a masculine name of Māori (Polynesian) origin, meaning "man." In Māori cosmology, Tāne (also known as Tāne-mahuta or Tāne-nui-a-Rangi) is the god of forests, birds, and light. He is a son of the sky father Rangi...
Tangaroa is a name of Polynesian origin, meaning "sea god" or simply "god of the sea" in Māori and related languages. In Polynesian mythology, Tangaroa (also known as Takaroa in the South Island dialect of Māori, and cog...