Polynesian Girl Names
Polynesian female names largely come from Indigenous languages such as Hawaiian, Samoan, Tongan, Tahitian, and Māori. These languages favor open syllables and vowel endings, so many girls’ names end in a, e, or i. Orthographic features like the Hawaiian ‘okina and kahakō (macron), and Māori/Tahitian macrons, are part of correct spelling.
Female names often mirror male structures, with femininity signaled by meaning rather than grammar. In Hawaiian, elements like lei (garland) and lani (sky/heaven) are common in girls’ names, and nature terms (flowers, fragrance, sea, light) appear frequently across the region. Modern usage includes compound or hyphenated forms and a growing preference to restore diacritics; Christian names also remain in parallel use in some communities.
Showing 50
of 68 names
| Name | Meaning | Origins | Gender | Popularity (last 10y) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Malani | Sanskrit/Sinhalese: 'fragrant' or 'garlanded' (from Malini/Mala). Polynesian: associated with 'lani' (sky/heaven) and often rendered as 'heavenly' or 'calm/serene'. | Polynesian, Sanskrit | Girl | 5,287 #1 | |
| Moana | Ocean, sea | Polynesian | Girl | 930 #2 | |
| Hina | Henna; chick; sunlight | Arabic, Japanese, Polynesian, Urdu | Girl | 498 #3 | |
| Ilani | Hebrew: "tree/trees"; Hawaiian: "heavenly, royal/sky" | Hawaiian, Hebrew, Polynesian | Girl | 414 #4 | |
| Malu | In Hawaiian/Polynesian: 'shelter, protection, shade'. In Portuguese/Brazilian: a pet form of Maria Luísa/Maria Luiza. | Brazilian, Hawaiian, Polynesian, Portuguese | Girl | 180 #5 | |
| Noni | Diminutive meaning 'little Non' or the Polynesian word for the noni fruit (Morinda citrifolia). | English, Polynesian, Welsh | Girl | 139 #6 | |
| Calliah | Likely 'bright' or 'beautiful' (from Kalia); with a Hebrew -iah ending it can carry a theophoric sense related to God. | English, Greek, Hawaiian, Hebrew, Latin, Polynesian | Girl | 30 #7 | |
| Moanna | Ocean, sea | Polynesian | Girl | 18 #8 | |
| Mahine | Moon, moonlight | Polynesian | Girl | 6 #9 | |
| Moli | Often a diminutive of Mary - traditionally associated with meanings like 'sea of bitterness' or 'beloved'. Meaning can vary by language and culture. | English, Irish, Polynesian, Samoan | Girl | 5 #10 | |
| Orana | A Polynesian word used as a greeting (often 'hello' or 'welcome'); connotes well‑being or life | Polynesian | Girl | 4 #11 | |
| Ailea | Varies by origin: if from Eileen/Helene - "bright, shining" or "torch"; if from Alia/Aaliyah - "exalted" | Polynesian | Girl | — | |
| Aisi | Varies by origin: possibly 'she who lives' (from Aisha) or 'dream/vision' (from Aisling); as a modern name it may have no fixed traditional meaning | Irish, Polynesian | Girl | — | |
| Alamia | Uncertain; possible meanings include 'work, industrious' (if from Amalia), 'treasure/gift' (if influenced by Samoan Alamea), or connections to 'world/knowledge' (if related to Arabic 'alam'). | Polynesian, Spanish | Girl | — | |
| Alikia | Likely derived from Polynesian roots related to Alika/Aliki; commonly interpreted as "most noble" or "protector," and sometimes treated as a variant of Alicia/Alice. | Polynesian | Girl | — | |
| Aloiki | No widely attested meaning; etymology unclear or not well-documented | Polynesian | Girl | — | |
| Anakelea | Uncertain; possibly derived from Hawaiian elements (e.g., 'ana' + 'lea') suggesting 'joyful' or 'breath/measure of joy'. | Polynesian | Girl | — | |
| Anuha | Rare/uncertain. Possibly derived from Sanskrit 'anu' (small, atom, again) or Hawaiian 'anu' (cool); exact meaning is unclear. | Hawaiian, Indian, Polynesian | Girl | — | |
| Aolany | Heavenly cloud; cloud of the sky (from Hawaiian 'ao' = cloud + 'lani' = sky/heaven/royal) | Hawaiian, Polynesian | Girl | — | |
| ciana | Most often associated with 'dark-haired' (from the Irish root Cian); can also be linked to 'light' if derived from Luciana or treated as a variant of Kiana/Diana. | English, Hawaiian, Irish, Italian, Polynesian | Girl | — | |
| Epa | Offering to a god | Māori, Polynesian | Girl | — | |
| Faleana | Possibly from Polynesian fale 'house' + Ana - 'house of Ana' / 'from the house'; alternately an invented/variant form related to Leana/Elena (meanings: 'light', 'grace' or 'lioness') - meaning uncertain. | English, Polynesian | Girl | — | |
| Hailama | Likely related to 'lama' meaning 'light' or 'torch' in Polynesian languages; roughly 'light/torch' or 'light of ...' (interpretation uncertain) | Polynesian | Girl | — | |
| Halola | Celebration, rejoicing; joyful | Hawaiian, Polynesian | Girl | — | |
| Helei | Varies by origin. As a Hailey/Haley variant: "hay meadow" (Old English). In Hawaiian contexts it may relate to words like "hele" ("to go"). As a Chinese transliteration, meaning depends on the characters (e.g., "Lei" can mean "thunder" 雷 or "pile/pebble/rocky" 磊). | Polynesian | Girl | — | |
| Henuita | Likely a feminine form/adaptation of Henrietta - 'ruler of the home' (derived from Henry) | Polynesian | Girl | — | |
| Hialei | Probable compound of Hia + lei; often interpreted as 'child of the lei', 'beloved garland', or 'beautiful lei'. | Polynesian | Girl | — | |
| Hinah | Variant of Hina - can mean 'moon goddess' (Polynesian) or relate to 'henna' (Arabic); sometimes linked to Hannah meaning 'grace'. | Arabic, Hebrew, Polynesian | Girl | — | |
| Ikia | Possibly related to Igbo 'Ike' (power/wealth) or interpreted as a modern name meaning 'little one' or a pleasing sound; meaning is not firmly established | Hawaiian, Polynesian | Girl | — | |
| Ima-I-Ka-Lani | Likely a Hawaiian phrase meaning 'look to the heavens' or 'in/with the heavens' (relating to the sky or the divine). | Hawaiian, Polynesian | Girl | — | |
| Ka-Lei-Onaona | The fragrant lei | Hawaiian, Polynesian | Girl | — | |
| Kailmana | Typically interpreted as “power/spirit of the sea” (Hawaiian kai = sea + mana = spiritual power). A less common Sanskrit-influenced reading could relate to Kail (Kailash) + mana (mind/esteem). | Polynesian | Girl | — | |
| Kaimanah | From kai ('sea') + mana ('spiritual power') - 'sea power' or interpreted as 'sea jewel/diamond' in Hawaiian usage | Hawaiian, Polynesian | Girl | — | |
| Kalanee | Derived from Hawaiian Kalani: 'the heavens, the sky' and by extension 'royal' or 'chief' - often interpreted as 'heavenly' or 'royal one'. | Hawaiian, Polynesian | Girl | — | |
| Kama-Lei | From Hawaiian 'kama' (child, descendant) + 'lei' (garland of flowers) - 'child of the lei' or 'beloved/flower child' | Hawaiian, Polynesian | Girl | — | |
| Kammaleanah | Probable blended meaning - often interpreted as a compound of elements like 'Kamala' (lotus) and 'Leana/Leah' (delicate/beloved); thus a possible sense is 'lotus child' or 'beloved child' (meaning not definitive) | Polynesian | Girl | — | |
| Laka | Name of a Hawaiian goddess associated with hula and the forest; connotes dance, protection, and beauty. | Hawaiian, Polynesian | Girl | — | |
| Latai | Not well documented; likely of Samoan/Polynesian origin (meaning uncertain) | Polynesian | Girl | — | |
| Leina-Ala | Approximately 'leap to the path' or 'stepping into awakening' - combining Leina (to leap/step) and Ala (path, to awaken). | Polynesian | Girl | — | |
| Lemana | “the power” - powerful; spiritual/supernatural power (from 'mana') | Polynesian | Girl | — | |
| Lewa | Varies by origin - commonly associated with 'white/pure' (Hebrew Levana); other meanings depend on regional language | Hebrew, Polish, Polynesian, Swahili | Girl | — | |
| Leyati | No established meaning in recorded sources; possibly inspired by names meaning 'night' or 'heavenly' (e.g., Layla, Leilani) - otherwise meaning unknown | Hawaiian, Polynesian | Girl | — | |
| Litiana | Adaptation of Liliana or Lydia - associated meanings include "lily" (from Liliana) or "from Lydia" (geographical) | Polynesian | Girl | — | |
| Loleata | Not widely documented. Meaning is uncertain - may be a local Polynesian given name or a variation of Loletta (a diminutive of Lola). | Polynesian | Girl | — | |
| Lomasi | Uncertain - not well-documented; possibly related to Pacific-language roots meaning beauty/adornment | Polynesian | Girl | — | |
| Macala | Varies by origin - commonly treated as a feminine form of Michael meaning "Who is like God?"; as a phonetic/anglicized form it may be used without a fixed traditional meaning | Polynesian | Girl | — | |
| Mahea-Lani | Compound of Mahea + Lani - 'Mahea of the heavens' or 'heavenly Mahea' (Lani = heaven/sky/royal; exact sense of Mahea is uncertain) | Hawaiian, Polynesian | Girl | — | |
| Maiana | Likely a feminine name tied to the Polynesian atoll Maiana or derived from Maia, often interpreted as 'of Maia' or associated with the goddess Maia/earth/mother | Greek, Polynesian | Girl | — | |
| Marama | Moon; light, clear; month | Polynesian | Girl | — | |
| Marowa | Possibly derived from Arabic 'Marwa' meaning 'white stone' or referring to the sacred hill Marwah; otherwise meaning unknown | Polynesian | Girl | — |
Polynesian Girls name popularity over time
Aggregated births across United States, United Kingdom, France, Germany for every Polynesian-origin name in our dataset.
68
Names in this origin
11
With data in 2024
1,233
Births 2024
1,268
Peak year 2021