Polynesian and South Sea Islander Names

A baby girl named Papa might cause some confusion, but the Papa (or Papatuanuku) of Polynesian mythology is the mother or earth goddess.

Moana may be the best-known South Sea Islander name thanks to Disney. This puts a male spin on the appealing nature name.

Simple, easily-translated Maori name.

The Tahitian variation of Leilani.

In Polynesian mythology Tangaroa was the god of the sea, the son of Rangi and Papa. He separated his parents' embrace, creating the earth and the sky.

A simple gender-neutral name.

This ocean-oriented name is one of the Tahitian names unknown in the wider world.

The Tahitian roots of Herenui are here, which means love, and nui, which means big. So this South Sea Islander name can be translated as "big love".

This gender-neutral royal name of Tahiti was inspired by the death of a child from a night cough, not the most positive reference especially in the age of Covid.

Moerani is a gender-neutral Tahitian name that might be translated as sleep heaven or sleep sky, perhaps reflecting a wish for a peaceful baby.

This royal Tahitian name was borne by four kings and a queen of Tahiti. It was created after a royal baby died of a night cough, perhaps not the happiest meaning.

Heitiare is a classic Tahitian name that's virtually unknown in the US.

Names that convey strength and power are popular today, and this Tahitian name makes a rare choice in the category.

A Maori name famously borne by NZ actress Roimata Fox. The winner of the 2015 series of New Zealand's The X Factor sang a love song about a woman with this name.

This gender-neutral Tahitian name has a peaceful meaning.

Would be the Maori equivalent of Cora or any other name meaning maiden.

Tahiti is famous for its beautiful pearls, which are cultivated and collected from the black lip oyster. While you might think of pearls being white, Tahitian pearls are known as 'black pearls' and come in black, dark green, and grey with undertones of green, pink, silver blue and yellow. Poerava is the native Tahitian name for the pearls and is used as a feminine name.