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Hawaiian Baby Names

Written by Monica Beyer

Are you looking for a native Hawaiian baby name for your baby girl or baby boy? If you are a native Hawaiian, of Hawaiian descent or just love the sound of these melodic names, check out our ideas for a beautiful Hawaiian baby name.

A Little History

Hawaiians traditionally give each child a very unique and special name. Often names were created for each child and the name held great importance from birth onwards. Names were not shared or borrowed from other families, although a child might be named after their own family member. There were no surnames at the time.

Once British Captain James Cook arrived in 1778, this began the arrival of English-speaking missionaries. This was followed in 1860 by the Act to Regulate Names, which was signed into law by King Kamehameha IV. This mandated that children henceforth be named according to European naming practices. Babies were given a Christian first name (generally something from the Bible) that was often "Hawaiianized," and while they are not considered traditional Hawaiian names they are still in common usage in Hawaii today and are included here. The person's native name (or a shortened version of it) was then used as a surname and often a traditional name was chosen by the parents as a middle name.

Even amongst the native Hawaiian population today, native names can still be hard to come by. There is a recent trend towards using traditional names, and even those who have a "regular" American name will choose to go by their traditional Hawaiian middle name. Hawaiian names are often long but can be easily shortened too.

We have included a pronounciation guide in brackets to assist you. Be sure to maintain the spelling of the name you choose (and even the punctuation mark called the okina, which is the apostrophe-like mark in the names), because omitting them can drastically change the original meaning of the name.

Hawaiian Boy Names

Akamu [ah KAH moo]: the Hawaiian version of Adam

Alaka'i [ah lah KAH ee]: guide, leader, conductor (Hawaiian)

Ekela [eh KEH lah]: Hawaiian form of the Hebrew name Ezra

Ekewaka [eh keh WAH kah]: Hawaiian version of Edward -- other versions are Edewada and Ekualo

Enosa [eh NO sah]: Hawaiian version of Enosh, which is a Biblical name

Heleuma [heh leh OO mah]: anchor or stone anchor (Hawaiian)

Holeka [ho LEH kah]: Hawaiian version of Horace

Iakona [ee ah KO nah]: Hawaiian version of Jason

Ika'aka [ee kah AH kah]: Hawaiian version of Issac

Ikaikalani [ee kah ee kah LAH nee]: compound name meaning divine strength (Hawaiian)

Kahakuokahale [kah hah koo o kah HAH leh]: ruler of the home (Hawaiian)

Kahawai [kah hah WAH ee]: stream, brook, river (Hawaiian)

Kahelemeakua [kah heh leh meh ah KOO ah]: the one who walks with God (Hawaiian)

Keoni [KEN o nee]: Hawaiian version of John

Maleko [mah LEH ko]: Hawaiian version of Mark

Olakeakua [o lah keh ah koo ah]: God lives (Hawaiian)

Pa'ahana [pah ah HAH nah]: industrious, busy

Walenekino [wah leh neh KEE no]: Hawaiian version of Valentine

Get thousands more boy baby name ideas here!

Hawaiian Girl Names

Ahulani [ah hoo LAH nee]: heavenly shrine (Hawaiian)

Airina [ah ee REE nah]: Hawaiian version of Irene

'Alohinani [ah LO hee NAH nee]: beautiful brightness (Hawaiian)

'Ele'ele [EH leh EH leh]: black, dark (Hawaiian)

'Ena [EH nah]: raging, fiery, fierce (Hawaiian)

Evalina [eh vah LEE nah]: Hawaiian version of Evelyn

Hoalohanani [ho ah lo hah NAH nee]: beautiful friend (Hawaiian)

Iolana [ee o LAH nah]: Hawaiian version of Yolanda

Ka'aona [kah AH o nah]: comes from the name of a Hawaiian month (June 7 to July 6) (Hawaiian)

Kakielekea [kah kee eh leh keh ah]: the white gardenia (Hawaiian)

Kalalika [kah LAH KEE kah]: Hawaiian version of Clarice

Karolaina [kah ro LAH ee nah]: Hawaiian version of Carolina

Keola [kee o lah]: the one life (Hawaiian)

Kimi [kee mee]: Hawaiian version of Kim

Leilani [leh ee NAH nee]: beautiful lei (Hawaiian)

Lokomaika'i [lo ko mah ee kah ee]: generosity, benevolence, kindness (Hawaiian)

Mililani [meelee LAH nee]: to praise, give thanks, exalt (Hawaiian)

Noelani [no eh LAH nee]: heavenly mist (Hawaiian)

Wana'ao [vah nah ah o]: dawn, sunrise (Hawaiian)

Get thousands more girl baby name ideas here!

Traditional Hawaiian names are beautiful and melodic, and even the Hawaiian versions of standard American names gives an interesting twist on naming that you might not have thought of!