​
​
Advanced Search

Polynesian and South Sea Islander Names

  1. Ngaire

    • Origin:

      Maori

    • Meaning:

      "flax flower"

    • Description:

      This name is common in New Zealand and Australia, with famous bearers including TV producer Ngaire Fuata and academic and author Ngaire Woods. It is pronounced ng (like the end of sing) -EYE-ree.
  2. Sione

    • Origin:

      Tongan and Samoan form of John, Hebrew

    • Meaning:

      "God is gracious"

    • Description:

      John is a name that's widely translated around the world, and this is one of the more unusual options. It is known internationally largely through rugby players, such as Sione Tuipulotu, captain of the Scotland rugby union team.
  3. Moerani

    • Origin:

      Tahitian

    • Meaning:

      "sleep heaven"

    • Description:

      This gender-neutral Tahitian name has a peaceful meaning.
  4. Aroha

    • Origin:

      Māori

    • Meaning:

      "love"

    • Description:

      This beautiful Māori name meaning love (cognate with Hawaiian aloha) is more wearable than the English word and softer Venus or Aphrodite. Former New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern named her daughter Neve Te Aroha in 2018, and in recent years, Aroha / Te Aroha has become the most popular Māori baby girl name.
  5. Vaitiare

    • Origin:

      Tahitian

    • Meaning:

      "water flower"

    • Description:

      Tiare, which means flower, is also a name and would make a simpler South Sea Islander choice. Vaitiare adds a water element.
  6. Marama

    • Origin:

      Maori and Tahitian

    • Meaning:

      "moon; bright"

    • Description:

      The name of a male lunar deity in Maori mythology, Marama is nevertheless now used as a female name in New Zealand – no doubt because its warm sound lends itself to contemporary feminine trends. In Tahitian, it means "bright, clear".
  7. Manaia

    • Origin:

      Maori

    • Meaning:

      "embellishment; spiritual messenger"

    • Description:

      The Manaia is a mythological creature in Māori culture, a common motif in Māori art. Usually depicted as having the head of a bird, the tail of a fish and the body of a man, the Manaia is traditionally believed to be the messenger between the earthly world of mortals and the domain of the spirits, and its symbol is used as a guardian against evil.
  8. Nyree

    • Origin:

      English from Maori

    • Meaning:

      "flaxen"

    • Description:

      Anglicized form of Ngaire, this name is sometimes heard in New Zealand and very occasionally in England.
  9. Maui

    • Origin:

      Hawaiian place name and Polynesian mythology name

    • Description:

      While Maui was a male trickster god in Polynesian mythology, the well-known Hawaiian place name Maui can work for either gender.
  10. Nikau

    • Origin:

      Maori

    • Meaning:

      "palm tree"

    • Description:

      Nikau is among the most popular Maori names for boys in New Zealand. It sounds like a cousin to Nicholas, but Nikau is actually the name of a palm tree native to the islands.
  11. Tahiti

    • Origin:

      Tahitian, meaning unknown

    • Description:

      The Polynesian place name Tahiti was given to the island by its natives, although the origins of this name have been lost to history. Tahiti was once a Polynesian kingdom, but today is a part of the Society Islands in French Polynesia.
  12. Pania

    • Origin:

      Maori, a mythological sea maiden

    • Description:

      Pania is a possible alternative to Tania, if you want to go the New Zealand rather than Russian route.
  13. Awhina

    • Origin:

      Maori

    • Meaning:

      "help, support"

    • Description:

      A pretty name with an admirable meaning, but note the "wh" is pronounced like an English "f".
  14. Maui

    • Origin:

      Hawaiian, Polynesian mythology

    • Description:

      The name of the second-biggest (and third-most populous) island in Hawaii was one of the fastest-rising boys' names of 2017. A major factor was surely Dwayne Johnson's character in Moana, the Polynesian demigod named Maui, a mythological trickster who slowed the sun to create the days. (It fell back to normal levels in the following years.)
  15. Aroha

    • Origin:

      Maori

    • Meaning:

      "love"

    • Description:

      A simple gender-neutral name.
  16. Manaia

    • Origin:

      Maori

    • Meaning:

      "embellishment; spiritual messenger"

    • Description:

      Manaia is one of the most popular gender-neutral names in New Zealand, on that country's Maori Top 10 for boys but used nearly equally for girls.
  17. Tangaroa

    • Origin:

      Maori mythological name, ocean god

    • Description:

      In Polynesian mythology Tangaroa was the god of the sea, the son of Rangi and Papa. He separated his parents' embrace, creating the earth and the sky.
  18. Oliana

    • Origin:

      Polynesian

    • Meaning:

      "oleander"

    • Description:

      Lilting choice. "Oleanna" is the title of a David Mamet play.
  19. Maata

    • Description:

      Maata is a feminine name with Polynesian roots, particularly found in Māori culture where it can mean 'face' or 'appearance.' In some Finnish and Estonian contexts, it may be related to the name Marta or Martha. The name has a rhythmic, open sound with its repeated 'a' vowels that makes it flow easily. Though uncommon in Western countries, it has traditional significance in Pacific Island communities. Maata carries a connection to indigenous heritage and natural elements, reflecting cultural values of beauty and presence. While relatively rare globally, the name has seen occasional use outside its cultures of origin as parents increasingly seek names with meaningful cultural roots and distinctive sounds.

  20. Tamatoa

    • Origin:

      Tahitian

    • Meaning:

      "child warrior"

    • Description:

      Names that convey strength and power are popular today, and this Tahitian name makes a rare choice in the category.