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.

Tiare, which means flower, is also a name and would make a simpler South Sea Islander choice. Vaitiare adds a water element.

Tahitian names are not well-known beyond the South Sea islands, but with their nature meanings and the new popularity of Hawaiian names, they may travel far in the future.

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.

The Tahitian variation of Leilani.

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.

A simple gender-neutral name.

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

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

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.

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

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 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.

This gender-neutral Tahitian name has a peaceful meaning.

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.

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.