Ihaia as a Baby Name. Meaning and Origin of Ihaia

What is the meaning of the name Ihaia ?

The baby name Ihaia is a Male name , 3 syllables long and is pronounced ee-HY-ah (IPA: /iˈhaɪə/).

Ihaia is in Origin.

Ihaia is the Māori form of the biblical name Isaiah, adapted into te reo Māori through 19th‑century Christian mission and Bible translation. It derives from Hebrew Yeshayahu/Yesha‘yahu, meaning “Yahweh is salvation” or “the Lord is salvation.” The prophetic Book of Isaiah is rendered Ihaia in Te Paipera Tapu, anchoring the form in Māori literature and worship.

Used among Māori from the mid‑1800s, Ihaia became a baptismal and family name that reflects both Christian devotion and Māori linguistic identity. Today it remains uncommon but recognizable in Aotearoa New Zealand, often chosen to honor whakapapa and the Māori Bible tradition. Close cognates and variants include Isaiah and Isiah (English), Isaías (Spanish and Portuguese), Isaïe (French), Isaia (Italian), Jesaja (German and Scandinavian), and the original Hebrew Yeshayahu. While typically masculine, its Māori form gives it a distinctive cadence and cultural resonance.

⚙ Ihaia is a genuine rarity. In all, it appears just 5 times, across 4 countries.