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For Hawaiians, naming a child is a most important task. Parents or grandparents may specifically invent a name, or the name could be inspired by a dream or an event taking place around the time of the baby's birth. If you are considering a Hawaiian baby name, you should know a couple of things before you select a name.
Firstly, the pronunciation of the name is very important because if you pronounce it incorrectly, the name can mean a totally different thing. Familiarize yourself with the Hawaiian alphabet, which is much different from the English alphabet, as it only contains 12 letters: 5 vowels (a, e, i, o, u) and 7 consonants (h, k, l, m, n, p, w). A great guide to the Hawaiian alphabet and its pronunciation, Alternative Hawaii's Hawaiian Alphabet can help you with any pronunciation questions you may have.
Secondly, many Hawaiian baby names can theoretically be used for both boys and girls, although some names are more popular for each gender. However, sometimes certain names' meanings only fit one gender, so check the name's meaning before you make a final choice.
If you are interested in giving your child a Hawaiian baby name, take a look at these 12 Hawaiian names - six Hawaiian boy names and six Hawaiian girl names, their meanings, and their pronunciations, all from Parents Connect's Baby Name World's guide to Hawaiian baby names.
Hawaiian Baby Names for Boys
Akamu. The Hawaiian version of the English name Adam, this Hawaiian baby name means "man; earth." Pronounced "a KA moo," this name is rarely a unisex name due to its meaning.
Iokua. Pronounced "ee o KOO ah," this Hawaiian boy name means "God rescues." This name is the Hawaiian version of the English name Joshua.
Kai. This unisex Hawaiian baby name means "ocean." Pronounced "ky," this name is more often used for boys, and its popularity has risen strongly since the 1980's.
Kale. Pronounced "KAH leh," this Hawaiian baby name means "free man," and therefore, is mainly used as a boy's name and is the Hawaiian equivalent of the English name Charles.
Keoki. The Hawaiian equivalent of the English name George, this Hawaiian boy name means "Earth worker" and is pronounced "keh O kee."
Kimo. Meaning "supplanter," this Hawaiian baby name is pronounced "KEE mo" and is the Hawaiian equivalent of the English name James.
Hawaiian Baby Names for Girls
Iekika. Pronounced "ee ah KEE kah," this Hawaiian girl name is the Hawaiian version of the English name Jessica and means "God watches."
Kiana. Meaning "moon goddess," this Hawaiian baby name is pronounced "kee AH nah" and is the Hawaiian form of the English name Diana.
Leilani. Pronounced "lay LAH nee," this Hawaiian girl name means "heavenly blossoms" and is strictly used for girls.
Malia. Made popular from President Obama's daughter, this Hawaiian baby name means "calm and peaceful." Pronounced "mah LEE ah," this name is the Hawaiian equivalent of English name Mary.
Melika. Meaning "honey bee," this Hawaiian girl name is pronounced "meh LEE kah" and is the Hawaiian equivalent of the English name Melissa.
Pua. Pronounced "POO ah," this Hawaiian baby name means "flower; blossom" and is used only as a girl's name.
Email This
For Hawaiians, naming a child is a most important task. Parents or grandparents may specifically invent a name, or the name could be inspired by a dream or an event taking place around the time of the baby's birth. If you are considering a Hawaiian baby name, you should know a couple of things before you select a name.Firstly, the pronunciation of the name is very important because if you pronounce it incorrectly, the name can mean a totally different thing. Familiarize yourself with the Hawaiian alphabet, which is much different from the English alphabet, as it only contains 12 letters: 5 vowels (a, e, i, o, u) and 7 consonants (h, k, l, m, n, p, w). A great guide to the Hawaiian alphabet and its pronunciation, Alternative Hawaii's Hawaiian Alphabet can help you with any pronunciation questions you may have.
Secondly, many Hawaiian baby names can theoretically be used for both boys and girls, although some names are more popular for each gender. However, sometimes certain names' meanings only fit one gender, so check the name's meaning before you make a final choice.
If you are interested in giving your child a Hawaiian baby name, take a look at these 12 Hawaiian names - six Hawaiian boy names and six Hawaiian girl names, their meanings, and their pronunciations, all from Parents Connect's Baby Name World's guide to Hawaiian baby names.
Hawaiian Baby Names for Boys
Akamu. The Hawaiian version of the English name Adam, this Hawaiian baby name means "man; earth." Pronounced "a KA moo," this name is rarely a unisex name due to its meaning.
Iokua. Pronounced "ee o KOO ah," this Hawaiian boy name means "God rescues." This name is the Hawaiian version of the English name Joshua.
Kai. This unisex Hawaiian baby name means "ocean." Pronounced "ky," this name is more often used for boys, and its popularity has risen strongly since the 1980's.
Kale. Pronounced "KAH leh," this Hawaiian baby name means "free man," and therefore, is mainly used as a boy's name and is the Hawaiian equivalent of the English name Charles.
Keoki. The Hawaiian equivalent of the English name George, this Hawaiian boy name means "Earth worker" and is pronounced "keh O kee."
Kimo. Meaning "supplanter," this Hawaiian baby name is pronounced "KEE mo" and is the Hawaiian equivalent of the English name James.
Hawaiian Baby Names for Girls
Iekika. Pronounced "ee ah KEE kah," this Hawaiian girl name is the Hawaiian version of the English name Jessica and means "God watches."
Kiana. Meaning "moon goddess," this Hawaiian baby name is pronounced "kee AH nah" and is the Hawaiian form of the English name Diana.
Leilani. Pronounced "lay LAH nee," this Hawaiian girl name means "heavenly blossoms" and is strictly used for girls.
Malia. Made popular from President Obama's daughter, this Hawaiian baby name means "calm and peaceful." Pronounced "mah LEE ah," this name is the Hawaiian equivalent of English name Mary.
Melika. Meaning "honey bee," this Hawaiian girl name is pronounced "meh LEE kah" and is the Hawaiian equivalent of the English name Melissa.
Pua. Pronounced "POO ah," this Hawaiian baby name means "flower; blossom" and is used only as a girl's name.