Ka-Lama as a Baby Name. Meaning and Origin of Ka-Lama

What is the meaning of the name Ka-Lama ?

The baby name Ka-Lama is a Unisex name , 3 syllables long and is pronounced kah-LAH-ma (IPA: /kaˈlama/).

Ka-Lama is Hawaiian in Origin.

Ka-Lama blends the Hawaiian definite article ka with lama, meaning torch, light, and the native ebony tree (Diospyros sandwicensis) long linked with knowledge, clarity, and ritual purity. The compound can be read as "the light" or "the torch," a poetic emblem of guidance. As Kalama, it appears in 19th-century records, most notably borne by Queen Kalama, consort of Kamehameha III, which helped normalize its use as both given name and surname. In Hawaiian tradition the lama tree figured in temple ceremonies, further deepening the name’s associations with enlightenment.

Variants include Kalama (standard modern spelling), Ka Lama (spaced), and Lama; the hyphenated Ka-Lama is a contemporary stylistic choice. It is generally unisex in Hawaiian usage. Unrelatedly, Kālāma in Pali names a North Indian clan referenced in Buddhist texts. Overall meaning centers on light, illumination, and protection, making Ka-Lama a culturally rooted, resonant choice.

⚙ We have no record of Ka-Lama in any national birth registry or name dataset. Most often that means a rare name, a regional or heritage one, or a recent coinage. Either way, it's a name very few children share.