Hiʻiaka

hee-ee-A-ka

Hawaiian

"carry + embryo; hold + essence"

Hiʻiaka Origin and Meaning

The name Hiʻiaka is a girl's name meaning "carry + embryo; hold + essence".

In Hawaiian mythology, Hiʻiaka is the youngest sister of the volcano goddess Pele. In the legend, Pele's mother entrusts her with looking after an egg, which then turns into a baby girl who Pele names Hiʻiakaikapoliopele, meaning "Hiʻiaka in the bosom of Pele."

Hiʻiaka is derived from the Hawaiian components hiʻi, meaning "hold; carry" and aka, "embryo; essence", which fits with the legend of the myhtological Hiʻiaka's birth.

Also known as the patron goddess of the hula, Hi'iaka has also been used as the name of a moon, orbiting the dwarf planet Haumea. As a baby name however, Hiʻiaka has made the charts in Hawaii only once when it was given to 8 babies in 2009.