Pili as a Baby Name. Meaning and Origin of Pili

What is the meaning of the name Pili ?

The baby name Pili is a Female name , 2 syllables long and is pronounced PEE-lee — English/Hawaiian: /ˈpiːli/; Spanish: /ˈpili/.

Pili is Hawaiian in Origin.

Pili carries several layered origins. In Spanish it is the familiar short form of Pilar and María del Pilar, a Marian title tied to Zaragoza’s shrine, so its core meaning is “pillar, support.” The name saw broad use across Spain and Latin America in the mid‑20th century, echoed in pop culture by the twin duo “Pili y Mili,” and remains an affectionate nickname. Related variants include Pilar (formal), María del Pilar, Pilita (Filipino diminutive), and Pilarín.

In Hawaiian, pili means “to cling, be close,” also naming the native pili grass, and connects to the ancestral chief Pili Ka‘aiea, giving it unisex and aristocratic resonance. In Swahili, pili denotes “second,” sometimes chosen for a second‑born child. In the Philippines, Tagalog pili means “to choose,” inviting the sense “chosen,” alongside the well‑known pili nut. Across these strands, Pili evokes steadiness, intimacy, and special selection.