The baby name Latai is a Female name , 3 syllables long and is pronounced lah-TAH-ee (approx. /laˈta.i/); sometimes rendered as LAH-tie in English.
Latai is Polynesian in Origin.
The baby name Latai is a Female name , 3 syllables long and is pronounced lah-TAH-ee (approx. /laˈta.i/); sometimes rendered as LAH-tie in English.
Latai is Polynesian in Origin.
Rooted in Polynesia, Latai is a chiefly Tongan and Samoan given name, pronounced LAH-tie. Across these languages, tai means “sea/tide/coast,” while lā denotes the “sun”; together, the name is commonly interpreted as “sun over the sea” or “sun by the shore,” evoking ocean horizons, warmth, and navigation. Some speakers also link it to the cultural hero Lata in regional lore, adding undertones of craftsmanship and voyaging.
Documented in Tonga and neighboring islands through the 20th century and now well established in Pacific diasporas in New Zealand, Australia, and the United States, Latai is used mostly for girls but can be unisex. Variants include Lātai (with macron), Lata’i in Samoan orthography, and the simplified Lata; related short forms are Tai or La. Spelling adaptations such as Latay appear in English records.
Latai is exceptionally rare. There are only 12 recorded uses on record, spread over 9 countries.
Based on birth registration data from national statistics agencies.
| Country | Gender | Year | Rank | Born | of |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BN | Girls | 0 | #114 | 1 | 5,459 |
| CN | Boys | 0 | #331 | 1 | 9,639 |
| KW | Girls | 0 | #561 | 1 | 19,177 |
| AE | Girls | 0 | #597 | 1 | 20,968 |
| BD | Boys | 0 | #605 | 1 | 10,045 |
| EG | Girls | 0 | #1,009 | 1 | 14,742 |
| SA | Girls | 0 | #1,011 | 4 | 25,931 |
| MY | Girls | 0 | #1,072 | 1 | 24,821 |
| DZ | 0 | #1,234 | 1 | 20,130 |
Latai is popular in 9 countries — most recent births per country:
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