Pet Names · Dog Names
By Brynn McKeon · Updated September 2026
Across 6 pages
of 6
Hawaiian form of Matthew
"gift of God"
A refreshing variation on the Biblical classic Matthew, this Hawaiian form blends the stylish -o ending with the cool Kai sound. First appearing in the US stats in 1999, it has been climbing steadily…
Hawaiian variant of Elisha
A well-established (if rare) Hawaiian name that combines two trendy names: Elijah and Kai.
Hawaiian
"angel"
Anela is the equivalent of Angela, which means angel. Anela is also one of hawaii's top baby names .
Hawaiian; Igbo
"beautiful"
Folk singer DiFranco popularized this simple, appealing form. In Igbo mythology, Ani is one of the names of the goddess of the earth, fertility, creativity, and morality.
Hawaiian, Greek
"remembrance of a loved one, cherished memory; briny"
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…
Hawaiian or Danish variation of Katherine or Karen
"pure"
Kalena is one of those names that has a pleasant-if-synthetic feel. Research turns up a range of origins and meanings, but the most reliable peg it as a derivation of Katherine.
German, diminutive of Liselotte; Hawaiian
"God is my oath + freeman; generous one"
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…
Dutch and German variation of Leo, Latin
"lion"
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…
Maori, Samoan
"deep ocean, sea"
This Maori name, often heard in New Zealand, is an attractive, evocative choice for lovers of the ocean made famous – perhaps too famous – by the Disney heroine. Moana was also an alternate name for…
Hawaiian nature name
Captivating and appealing name — a maile is a vine used to make leis — getting noticed via writer Maile Meloy. Many pronounce it ala Miley, as in Cyrus, though native Hawaiian speakers say the…
"the heavens"
This name is one of the hot new spiritual names for both sexes. In Hawaiian it means "chieftain of the sky" or "spirit of the sky,"and is extremely popular for boys.
Nani is a multicultural feminine name with origins spanning several traditions. In Hawaiian, it means 'beautiful' or 'glory,' while it can also be a shortened form of names like Danielle or Natalie…
Hawaiian, Polynesian mythology
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…
"flames"
Hawaiian names are having a moment, and this one, despite its strong meaning, is relatively undiscovered. The pronunciation may not be immediately obvious, but it didn't hurt Keanu Reeves.
Liona is a feminine name that likely developed as a variant of Leona, which derives from the Latin word 'leo' meaning 'lion.' This elegant variation carries the same powerful connotations of…
"carried from Heaven"
Names ending in -lani have become so fashionable, people have taken up creating pseudo-Hawaiian names that emulate the sounds of the language (here's looking at you, Meilani). Mililani is at once…
Akoni is a Hawaiian masculine name that carries a powerful meaning - "worthy of praise" or "priceless." It has its roots in the Hawaiian culture where names often reflect natural elements, spiritual…
Arabic; Hawaiian
"light-footed, to move softly, to touch; joyful"
Sweet multicultural name.
Kani is a feminine name of Hawaiian origin meaning 'sound of the ocean.' It can also be found in Japanese culture, where it means 'crab.' The name has connections to nature and carries a melodic…
"the power of the ocean"
This Hawaiian name gracefully celebrates the force of nature, paying tribute to the ocean. If you're looking for unique names that mean ocean , this should be on your short list.
