Hawaiian Dog Names
Updated Sat May 17 2025
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Hawaiian dog names conjure up imagery of bright blue skies and waters, gorgeous mountain landscapes, and colorful flowers. Hawaiian names are rising in popularity across the US for babies, and this infatuation is beginning to carry over into the canine world as well.
Hawaiian female dog names include the lyrical Leilani, Kailani, and Alani. Hawaiian male dog names include short and sweet Kai and Koa.
Other popular Hawaiian dog names include Moana and Maui, Lilo and Nani from Disney films, as well as monikers made known by celebrities such as Keanu Reeves and Auli'i Cravalho.
Unique Hawaiian dog names include Iolani, Anela, and Lilinoe for female dogs, and Kainoa, Makaio, and Akoni for male dogs.
Search our entire collection of Hawaiian names for dogs below, ordered by their current popularity on Nameberry.
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- Kai
Origin:
Hawaiian, Frisian, ChineseMeaning:
"sea; warrior; triumph"Description:
Kai is an internationally flexible name with many possible origins and meanings, growing in popularity in the US and a diverse range of European countries.
- Kaia
Origin:
Latin, Scandinavian, or HawaiianMeaning:
"to rejoice or sea"Description:
The new Maia, the next Kayla, Kaia has been on the charts since the year 2000. You might see it as a female form of the also-rising Kai, which means sea in Hawaiian and is sometimes used for girls as well, or as a Kardashianization of the ancient goddess name Caia.
- Koa
Origin:
HawaiianMeaning:
"warrior; flowing tree native to Hawaii"Description:
The international popularity of Noah has led to some parents searching for alternatives and the rhyming Koa is now attracting more attention than ever. With it's cool K initial and summery, nature-inspired feel, this punchy three letter name has risen more than 600 places since it entered the US charts in 2017.
- Kane
Origin:
CelticMeaning:
"warrior"Description:
A name of multiple identities: a somewhat soap-operatic single-syllable surname, a homonym for the biblical bad boy Cain, and, when found in Japan and Hawaii, it transforms into the two syllable KA-neh. Kane also has multiple meanings: in Welsh, it's "beautiful"; in Japanese, "golden"; and in Hawaiian, "man of the Eastern sky."
- Lilia
Origin:
Spanish, Italian and RussianMeaning:
"lily"Description:
Lilia is pretty double L name that makes for sparkly, floral choice with plenty of international flair. More distinctive that Lily, less popular than Liliana, Lia, and Lilian, Lilia was a new entry to the US Top 1000 in 2023.
- Malia
Origin:
Hawaiian variation of MaryMeaning:
"bitter"Description:
Malia rose up the charts back in 2009 when it was brought into the spotlight as the name of the Obama's eldest daughter. It leapt into the US Top 200, and while it hasn't reached that level of popularity again, it now sees steady usage, and is given to around 1100 girls every year.
- Leilani
Origin:
HawaiianMeaning:
"heavenly flower"Description:
Lyrical, lively and bold, Leilani is a name that feels fresh, floral, and summery. Sharing sounds with the popular Lillian, Layla and Luna, Leilani joined the US Top 100 in 2020.
- Keanu
Origin:
HawaiianMeaning:
"the coolness, or the cool breeze"Description:
An evocative name brought from Hawaii to the mainland by Keanu Reeves, who was born in Beirut to a part-Hawaiian, part-Chinese father. It moved into the Top 1000 for the first time in over a decade in 2016. Keanu ranks among
- Naia
Origin:
Hawaiian, Greek, BasqueMeaning:
"dolphin; to flow; wave, sea foam"Description:
A multicultural option that's equally intriguing but more unusual than Maia. Connected to water and the ocean, it is a Top 100 choice in Spain and Puerto Rico and has been rising up the charts in France and the UK in recent years. Alternative (and equally multicultural) spelling alternative Nya has also proved popular.
- Kainoa
Origin:
HawaiianMeaning:
"the namesake; sea of freedom"Description:
Intriguing Hawaiian option that combines the sounds two popular boy names—Kai and Noah — but is in a name in its own right, not a newly created compound name — and is pronounced just slightly differently. The name has two possible meanings: from the elements kai and noa it means "sea of freedom", whereas from ka and inoa, it means "the name(sake)".
- Kailani
Origin:
HawaiianMeaning:
"sea and sky"Description:
This name's similarity to Kalani and pretty Hawaiian origin helped catapult it into the Top 1000 for the first time in 2013.
- Lui
Description:
Lui is a concise masculine name with multicultural roots and meanings. In Italian and Spanish, it functions as a shortened form of Luigi or Luis, respectively, ultimately deriving from the Germanic name Ludwig meaning 'famous warrior.' In Japanese, Lui (類) can mean 'kind' or 'type,' though other kanji combinations are possible. In Chinese, depending on the characters used, it may relate to concepts like 'thunder' or other meanings. Hawaiian tradition uses Lui as a transliteration of Louis. The name's brevity makes it easily pronounceable across language barriers, while its international character lends it versatility. Though not typically among the most popular names in Western countries, Lui offers a compact, modern feel with rich cultural connections.
- Kalea
Origin:
HawaiianMeaning:
"joy, happiness"Description:
Kalea is a Top 100 name for girls in Hawaii, that may also be spelled as Kale'a. Sources differ on the meaning of the name, but the most authoritative land on "joy or happiness", with other suggestions being "clear", "call, voice", "the bright one" or a combination of other Hawaiian names, such as Kalani and Leilani.
- Lilo
Origin:
German, diminutive of Liselotte; HawaiianMeaning:
"generous one"Description:
Lilo is the name of the spunky little Hawaiian girl character in the Disney movie Lilo & Stitch-- and is also Lindsay Lohan's nickname. Multi-cultural, it can be found in Hawaiian, German and Hebrew nomenclature.
- Halia
Origin:
Hawaiian, GreekMeaning:
"remembrance of a loved one, cherished memory; briny"Description:
Halia is one of Hawaii's top baby names, in the Top 50 for girls in 2021. Rare yet quietly on the rise outside of Hawaii, it was given to around 64 girls in a recent year. With its appealing meaning and approachable sound, Halia may see more use in the future.
- Lio
Origin:
Dutch and German variation of Leo, LatinMeaning:
"lion"Description:
This alternative and modern spelling of Leo is popular with German- and Dutch-speaking parents and features in the charts in Switzerland, The Netherlands, Belgium, and Germany. While it's less popular in English-speaking coutntries, there has been a quiet but not insubstantial increase in the number of boys given the name. 2024 saw it given to 44 babies in the US, compared to just 20 a few years earlier.
- Nakoa
Origin:
HawaiianMeaning:
"the warriors"Description:
Nakoa is a Top 100 name for boys in Hawaii. It became more widely known after actors Lisa Bonet and Jason Mamoa chose it for their son.
- Kalani
Origin:
HawaiianMeaning:
"the heavens"Description:
Kalani is a rhythmic name that can be used for either gender though it is predominantly used on girls in the US. With its celestial meaning, and cool K beginning, it only entered the US Top 1000 for the first time in 2015. Now in the Top 400, it joins Kai and Leilani as popular choices with Hawaiian origins.
- Ailani
Origin:
Hawaiian, Hispanic variation of Aileen or Aylin, "high chief; shining light; of the moon"Meaning:
"high chief; shining light; of the moon"Description:
Lilting and lovely, Ailani entered the US Top 1000 for the first time in 2016 and was a fast climbing choice in 2024 when it rose 267 places, placing it in the Top 400 of that year. With Hawaiian, Spanish, Irish, and Turkish influence, it is an appealingly multicultural choice.
- Makoa
Origin:
HawaiianMeaning:
"brave man, fearless"Description:
One of the most popular native language names for boys in Hawaii, Makoa joins Nakoa and Koa as Hawaiian boys' names finding a wider audience in the US. Given to 125 boys in the US in a recent year, 85% of whom where born outside of Hawaii.