Hawaiian Dog Names
Hawaiian names for dogs, each with its meaning and how to say it. Strong names for big dogs, soft names for small ones, sea names for dogs that swim, and a few named after the food.
Male Hawaiian dog names
Koa
brave, the koa hardwood tree
Kona
leeward, the sunny side of the island
Nalu
wave, surf
Kai
sea
Makoa
fearless
Ikaika
strong
Manō
shark
Pōhaku
rock
Hekili
thunder
Nakoa
the warriors
Kekoa
the brave one
Kūpaʻa
steadfast, loyal
Moku
island
Kimo
Hawaiian form of James
Keoni
Hawaiian form of John
Kaimana
power of the sea, diamond
Kahuna
expert, priest
Aliʻi
chief, royal
Kukui
candlenut tree, light
Kanaloa
god of the ocean
Makani
wind
Kāne
man, god of creation
Lono
god of rain and harvest
Kū
god of war, to stand
Māui
the demigod who snared the sun
Kaipo
the sweetheart
Kāwika
Hawaiian form of David
Hilo
new moon, a town on Hawaiʻi Island
Kanoa
the free one
Keanu
the cool breeze
Noa
free
Female Hawaiian dog names
Kona
leeward, the sunny side of the island
Haupia
coconut pudding
Lilikoʻi
passion fruit
Moana
ocean
Naiʻa
dolphin
Wailele
waterfall
Lilo
generous one
Pua
flower
Lei
garland
Momi
pearl
Nani
beautiful
Meli
honey
Hōkū
star
Noe
mist
Leilani
heavenly lei
Malia
calm, Hawaiian form of Mary
Kailani
sea and sky
Lani
heaven, sky
Mahina
moon
Hina
goddess of the moon
Loke
rose
Melia
plumeria
Maile
the maile vine
Lehua
the ʻōhiʻa blossom
Kiele
gardenia
Pīkake
jasmine
Anela
angel
Ānuenue
rainbow
Pele
the volcano goddess
Ipo
sweetheart
Mālie
calm
Aloha
love
Ohana
family
Names for big dogs
Koa
brave, the koa hardwood tree
Makoa
fearless
Ikaika
strong
Pōhaku
rock
Hekili
thunder
Nakoa
the warriors
Kūpaʻa
steadfast, loyal
Mauna
mountain
Nui
big, great
Kahuna
expert, priest
Aliʻi
chief, royal
Koholā
humpback whale
Puaʻa
pig
Kanaloa
god of the ocean
Uila
lightning
Kū
god of war, to stand
Names for small dogs
Poi
the taro paste eaten with every Hawaiian meal
Ono
delicious
Haupia
coconut pudding
Niu
coconut
Honu
green sea turtle
Puna
spring of water
Liko
leaf bud
Lilo
generous one
Pua
flower
Lei
garland
Momi
pearl
Nani
beautiful
Iki
small, little
Keiki
child
Meli
honey
Noe
mist
Ahe
soft breeze
Ulu
breadfruit, to grow
Ao
daylight, cloud
Ua
rain
Manu
bird
Ipo
sweetheart
Punahele
favorite
Kaipo
the sweetheart
ʻEleu
lively, quick
Lele
to fly, to leap
Wiki
quick
Aloha
love
Noa
free
Names for dogs that love the water
Nalu
wave, surf
Kai
sea
Manō
shark
Kaimana
power of the sea, diamond
Koholā
humpback whale
Moana
ocean
Kanaloa
god of the ocean
Honu
green sea turtle
Naiʻa
dolphin
Ehukai
sea spray
Wailele
waterfall
Puna
spring of water
Kailani
sea and sky
Hawaiian food names for dogs
Poi
the taro paste eaten with every Hawaiian meal
Poke
to slice, the raw fish dish
Ono
delicious
Haupia
coconut pudding
Kālua
cooked in an earth oven
Laulau
leaf-wrapped bundle of pork and fish
Lilikoʻi
passion fruit
Niu
coconut
Kukui
candlenut tree, light
Kalo
taro
Ulu
breadfruit, to grow
Sky and weather names
Hōkū
star
Noe
mist
Ahe
soft breeze
Lani
heaven, sky
Mahina
moon
Hina
goddess of the moon
Lā
sun
Ao
daylight, cloud
Makani
wind
Uila
lightning
Ānuenue
rainbow
Ua
rain
Hilo
new moon, a town on Hawaiʻi Island
Keanu
the cool breeze
Playful names
Puaʻa
pig
ʻĪlio
dog
Laulau
leaf-wrapped bundle of pork and fish
ʻEleu
lively, quick
Lele
to fly, to leap
Kolohe
mischievous, rascal
Pilikia
trouble
Holoholo
to go out for a stroll
Wiki
quick
Mahalo
thank you
Ohana
family
Choosing a Hawaiian name for your dog
Dogs came to Hawaiʻi with the first Polynesian voyagers, and the Hawaiian word for dog, ʻīlio, is shared with languages across the Pacific. The best Hawaiian dog names are short, two or three syllables, with clear vowels a dog can pick out of a sentence. Koa, Kona, Nalu, Kai, Poi, Lilo, and Hōkū all work as commands as well as names. Longer names such as Leilani or Kaimana shorten naturally to Lei and Kai.
Hawaiian has no silent letters, so say every vowel and put the stress on the second-to-last syllable. Nalu is NAH-loo, Makani is mah-KAH-nee, Haupia is how-PEE-ah. The line over a vowel, as in Manō and Hōkū, means hold it a little longer. The full rules are in the pronunciation guide.
Meanings that fit a dog
Pick the meaning first and the name follows. A guardian breed suits Kūpaʻa (steadfast), Nakoa (the warriors), or Aliʻi (chief). A retriever that lives in the water suits Nalu (wave), Honu (turtle), or Kanaloa (the ocean god). A lap dog suits Momi (pearl), Meli (honey), or Iki (little). A dog that is always in trouble is Kolohe (rascal) or Pilikia (trouble), both said with affection in Hawaiʻi. And a dog that loves dinner more than anything is Ono, which means delicious.
Names to use with care
A few Hawaiian names carry religious or royal weight. Pele, Kāne, Kū, Lono, and Kanaloa are gods. Kamehameha and Kaʻiulani are monarchs. People in Hawaiʻi do give pets these names, usually with a wink, but if you want to stay clear of any awkwardness, the nature, food, and quality names above are the safe choices.