Polynesian Boy Names
Polynesian male names draw from languages across the Polynesian region, including Māori, Hawaiian, Samoan, Tongan, and Tahitian. They follow the region’s phonotactics: mostly open syllables, vowel endings, and limited consonant clusters, with macrons or glottal stops in some languages. Male and female names share these structures; masculine identification usually comes from meaning rather than form, such as titles or male figures.
Christian-era influence remains strong, so locally adapted biblical male names are common alongside indigenous terms. Examples include Pita, Taniela, Tanielu, Maleko, Enoka, and names tied to rank or heroes like Ariki and Maui, plus Nainoa, Manu, and Tiki.
Showing 36
of 36 names
| Name | Meaning | Origins | Gender | Popularity (last 10y) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lino | Flax, linen (associated with Linus) | Hawaiian, Italian, Polynesian, Portuguese, Spanish | Boy | 2,843 #1 | |
| Maui | Name of a Polynesian demigod famed for fishing up islands and slowing the sun; literal etymology uncertain | Hawaiian, Polynesian | Boy | 255 #2 | |
| Manu | Varies by origin: in Sanskrit a legendary progenitor/'first man'; as a diminutive of Manuel means 'God is with us'; in Polynesian languages means 'bird'. | Polynesian, Portuguese, Sanskrit, Spanish | Boy | 221 #3 | |
| Nainoa | Likely derived from Hawaiian inoa 'name' - often interpreted as 'to name', 'named', or 'the named one'. | Hawaiian, Polynesian | Boy | 132 #4 | |
| Ikaia | Yahweh is salvation | Polynesian | Boy | 76 #5 | |
| Maleko | Uncertain - often treated as a Polynesian/Hawaiian rendering of Malachi (commonly understood as 'messenger of God') or a localized form of Mark; exact meaning varies by source | Polynesian | Boy | 51 #6 | |
| Hau | Vietnamese: 'later/after' or 'empress/queen' (from Chinese). Hawaiian/Polynesian: name of the hau tree (Hibiscus tiliaceus), associated with lightweight/pliable wood and traditional uses. | Hawaiian, Polynesian, Vietnamese | Boy | 33 #7 | |
| Savea | A Samoan family name and matai (chief) title, associated with leadership or warrior status | Polynesian, Samoan | Boy | 31 #8 | |
| Tanielu | God is my judge | Polynesian, Samoan | Boy | 29 #9 | |
| Afa | Hurricane | Polynesian, Samoan | Boy | — | |
| Amanakey | Hope; expectation | Polynesian | Boy | — | |
| Apelahama | Father of many / father of multitudes (derived from Abraham) | Polynesian | Boy | — | |
| Apelama | Likely derived from the Biblical name Abraham, meaning "father of many"; exact native meaning uncertain | Polynesian | Boy | — | |
| Ariki | Chief; high chief; leader; noble | Polynesian | Boy | — | |
| Enoka | Dedicated; consecrated | Polynesian | Boy | — | |
| Iakona | Variant of Jacob/James - 'supplanter' (literally 'holder of the heel') | Polynesian | Boy | — | |
| Kaypo | Beloved; sweetheart | Hawaiian, Polynesian | Boy | — | |
| Lako | Likely 'defender/protector' via Albanian Leka/Alexander, or 'to go/move' in Fijian; exact meaning depends on cultural origin. | Albanian, Polynesian, Slavic | Boy | — | |
| Lepati | Exact meaning uncertain; likely a Polynesian personal or family name or a local transliteration of a foreign name. | Polynesian | Boy | — | |
| Lomu | Of Polynesian origin; exact meaning uncertain. Traditionally a family name and used as a masculine given name. | Polynesian | Boy | — | |
| Lopini Vaka | Lopini: a Polynesian personal name (exact etymology uncertain). Vaka: 'canoe' or 'boat' in many Polynesian languages. | Polynesian | Boy | — | |
| Lopini Vatuvei | Lopini: uncertain - a Polynesian given name, possibly adapted from a European name (approx.). Vatuvei: likely from 'vatu' (Fijian/Tongan for 'stone') + suffix, roughly 'of the stones' or 'stone place' (approx.). | Polynesian, Tongan | Boy | — | |
| Makaeli | Variant of Michael - 'Who is like God?' | Polynesian | Boy | — | |
| Matui | Likely a Polynesian variant of Matiu (the Māori form of Matthew), often interpreted as "gift of God"; can also appear as a family/chiefly name in some Polynesian contexts. | Polynesian | Boy | — | |
| Mauii | Name of the Polynesian demigod Māui; associated with cleverness and legendary feats. Exact etymology uncertain. | Hawaiian, Polynesian | Boy | — | |
| Moke | Varies by origin. Often a nickname with no independent meaning in English; in Polynesian contexts it can be a shortened form of longer names; in African contexts it may derive from a family name. | English, Hawaiian, Polynesian | Boy | — | |
| Opeli | Derived from Abel, meaning 'breath' or 'vapor' (used as a Polynesian form of the biblical name). | Polynesian | Boy | — | |
| Paea | Associated with the place-name Paea (a town on Tahiti); the precise original meaning is not well-documented and can vary by language/island. | Polynesian | Boy | — | |
| Pita | Rock, stone (from Peter) | Polynesian | Boy | — | |
| Sateane | Crown, wreath (derived from Stephen/Stephanos) | Polynesian | Boy | — | |
| Satini | Not well-documented; specific meaning unclear or possibly a local/formal adaptation of an introduced name | Polynesian | Boy | — | |
| Tabu | Sacred, forbidden | Polynesian, Proto-Oceanic | Boy | — | |
| Tafa | Varies by origin - commonly a short form of Mustafa ("chosen one") or a diminutive of Tafadzwa (Shona, "we are pleased"); may also function as a family or place name with local meanings. | Arabic, Polynesian, Shona | Boy | — | |
| Tanieli | God is my judge | Polynesian | Boy | — | |
| Tanoa | Associated with the traditional Fijian kava (yaqona) wooden mixing bowl called a tanoa; used as a masculine given name in Polynesia. | Polynesian | Boy | — | |
| Tiki | A carved human figure; in Māori myth the first man or ancestor; symbol of fertility and protection. | Polynesian | Boy | — |
Polynesian Boys name popularity over time
Aggregated births across United States, United Kingdom, France, Germany for every Polynesian-origin name in our dataset.
36
Names in this origin
1
With data in 2025
0
Births 2025
2,826
Peak year 0