Manaia

Maori

"embellishment; spiritual messenger"

Manaia Origin and Meaning

The name Manaia is a boy's name meaning "embellishment; spiritual messenger".

The Manaia is a mythological creature in Māori culture, a common motif in Māori art. Usually depicted as having the head of a bird, the tail of a fish and the body of a man, the Manaia is traditionally believed to be the messenger between the earthly world of mortals and the domain of the spirits, and its symbol is used as a guardian against evil.

Manaia is one of the most popular Māori names for boys in New Zealand, but is also one of the most gender-neutral names in that nation, used nearly equally for girls

Manaia Popularity

• 94 New Zealand 2020