Tongan male names draw primarily from the Tongan language and long-standing Christian influence. Many are localized forms of biblical male names adapted to Tongan phonology, which avoids consonant clusters, marks the glottal stop with ʻ, and typically ends words in vowels. Examples include Akilisi, Aleki, Apisai, Feleti, Iakopo, Inoke, Isileli, Lote, Samisoni, Solomoni, and Tevitaʻi. These reflect male biblical figures rendered in Tongan.

Modern usage favors Tonganized biblical or English male names. Phonological patterns are similar to those in female names; the difference is mainly the source figures. In contemporary records, a boy’s given name commonly appears with a family surname, as in Lopini Katoa, Lopini Paea, Lopini Tuaʻone, or Lopini Vatuvei.