In Maori culture, names are used to link families together, often by choosing names shared by other family members across several generations. Other practices include using Maori words, acknowledging and spreading the use of te reo Maori as one of the official languages of New Zealand.
For example, Manaia is a gender-neutral name that comes from the name of a stylized Maori carving of a mythological bird-human hybrid creature. It is a lovely way of sharing Maori culture with and through your children.
A name you might recognize is Moana, from the Disney film of the same name. It means ‘ocean’ or ‘deep sea’ and is shared by Hawaiian and other Polynesian languages. Moana is a gender-neutral name but is probably more likely to be viewed as a girl’s name after the popularity of the main character of the Disney film.
Some Maori names have simple meanings, like names used in the Western world. Ātaahua, a girl’s name meaning ‘beautiful’, and Rangi, a boy’s name meaning ‘sky’ are examples of this.
Choosing a name with a lovely meaning is a shared practice across the world, and for good reason. We want our children to be inspired and feel special, giving them a name that shows how we view them is one way of doing this.
Another Maori naming practice, as in other cultures, is to adopt a name from another language, changing the sound slightly to better match the sound of their language. For example, Mikaere is the Maori variant of Michael, a Hebrew name meaning ‘who is like God?’ (implying that no one is like Him).
Ahere
Meaning: Bird snare
Origin: Maori
Gender: Girl
Ahika
Meaning: Means sustaining and enhancing our place orcommunities, wero or challenge
Origin: Maori
Gender: Boy
Ahurewa
Meaning: A sacred place
Origin: Maori
Gender: Girl
Aka
Meaning: Affectionate
Origin: Maori
Gender: Girl
Akahata
Meaning: Supreme
Origin: Maori
Gender: Boy
Akenehi
Meaning: Pure
Origin: Maori
Gender: Girl
Akona
Meaning: To enthuse
Origin: Maori
Gender: Girl
Amahau
Meaning: To gather
Origin: Maori
Gender: Boy
Amiria
Meaning: Industrious, from Amelia
Origin: Maori
Gender: Girl
Anewa
Meaning: To fall
Origin: Maori
Gender: Boy
Ani
Meaning: Maori form of Anne
Origin: Maori
Gender: Girl
Aperira
Meaning: The Maori form of April
Origin: Maori
Gender: Girl
Aputa
Meaning: Open spaces
Origin: Maori
Gender: Girl
Arama
Meaning: Spring
Origin: Maori
Gender: Girl
Ari
Meaning: Visible and clear
Origin: Maori
Gender: Boy
Aroha
Meaning: Love
Origin: Maori
Gender: Girl
Arona
Meaning: Colorful
Origin: Maori
Gender: Girl
Aronui
Meaning: Desire. Great desire
Origin: Maori
Gender: Girl
Ata
Meaning: Image
Origin: Maori
Gender: Girl
Ataahua
Meaning: Beautiful
Origin: Maori
Gender: Girl
Awhina
Meaning: Helper, supporter
Origin: Maori
Gender: Girl
Emere
Meaning: Maori form of Emily
Origin: Maori
Gender: Girl
Erihapeti
Meaning: Maori form of Elizabeth
Origin: Maori
Gender: Girl
Hahona
Meaning: Healer
Origin: Maori
Gender: Girl
Heeni
Meaning: Maori form of Jane
Origin: Maori
Gender: Girl
Huhana
Meaning: Maori form of Susan
Origin: Maori
Gender: Girl
Ihaia
Meaning: God is salvation
Origin: Maori
Gender: Boy
Irirangi
Meaning: Spirit voice
Origin: Maori
Gender: Girl
Kaia
Meaning: Kaia name means The Sea
Origin: Maori
Gender: Girl
Katarina
Meaning: Maori form of Catherine
Origin: Maori
Gender: Girl
Kauri
Meaning: Tree or deer
Origin: Maori
Gender: Unisex
Kora
Meaning: Companion
Origin: Maori
Gender: Girl
Makareta
Meaning: Maori form of Margaret
Origin: Maori
Gender: Girl
Mahuta
Meaning: God of the forest
Origin: Maori
Gender: Boy
Maia
Meaning: Mother; One who has unconditional love like a mother
Origin: Maori
Gender: Girl
Manaia
Meaning: Guardian of the Heaven
Origin: Maori
Gender: Unisex
Marama
Meaning: Light of the world
Origin: Maori
Gender: Girl
Mere
Meaning: Maori form of Mary
Origin: Maori
Gender: Girl
Mikaere
Meaning: Maori variant of Michael
Origin: Maori
Gender: Boy
Moana
Meaning: Ocean
Origin: Maori
Gender: Unisex
Ngaire
Meaning: Silver fern
Origin: Maori
Gender: Girl
Nikau
Meaning: Name of a palm tree found in New Zealand
Origin: Maori
Gender: Boy
Nyree
Meaning: Maori name made popular by New Zealand actress Nyree Dawn Porter
Origin: Maori
Gender: Girl
Pounamu
Meaning: A treasured gift
Origin: Maori
Gender: Girl
Rangi
Meaning: Sky
Origin: Maori
Gender: Boy
Rawiri
Meaning: Beloved, one who is loved by everyone
Origin: Maori
Gender: Boy
Ruihi
Meaning: Maori form of Lucy
Origin: Maori
Gender: Girl
Tahupotiki
Meaning: Beloved child
Origin: Maori
Gender: Girl
Tia
Meaning: An aunt, daughter born to royalty
Origin: Maori
Gender: Unisex
Wiremu
Meaning: Maori form of William
Origin: Maori
Gender: Boy
