Hiilei as a Baby Name. Meaning and Origin of Hiilei

What is the meaning of the name Hiilei ?

The baby name Hiilei is a Female name , 3 syllables long and is pronounced hee-ee-LAY.

Hiilei is Hawaiian in Origin.

Hiilei is a Hawaiian given name derived from hiʻi (“to hold, carry, cuddle, cherish in the arms”) + lei (“garland, adornment; beloved person”). Together it conveys “cherished one carried like a lei,” suggesting a treasured child held close. The culturally resonant lei also signifies welcome, honor, and affection, deepening the name’s sense of tenderness and esteem.

Documented among Native Hawaiian families since at least the late 19th century and continuing through the Hawaiian cultural renaissance of the 20th century, the name remains uncommon outside Hawaiʻi. Usage skews feminine but, like many Hawaiian names, it can be unisex. Preferred orthography is Hiʻilei, with the ʻokina marking a glottal stop; anglicized forms include Hiilei (no diacritics) and, less often, Hi'i Lei (spaced). Related or thematic names include Hiʻilani, Leilani, Kalei, and Lei. Nicknames may be Lei or Hiʻi.