Hawaiian Names Meaning Ocean or Sea

The sea (kai) and the open ocean (moana) shape almost every part of Hawaiian life, so names that carry the water are among the most loved. These names refer to the sea, waves, and the people who live by them.

Spotlight · names meaning ocean

Kai
“sea”
kai (sea, seawater)
KYEUnisex
Kailani
“sea and sky”
kaisea+lanisky, heaven
kye-LAH-neeGirl
Moana
“ocean, the open sea”
moana (ocean)
moh-AH-nahUnisex

42 names · 15 girl · 12 boy · 15 unisex

Kai
sea
KYE🌊💧Unisex
Kailani
sea and sky
kye-LAH-nee🌊☁️✨Girl
kai+lani
Moana
ocean, the open sea
moh-AH-nah🌊💧Unisex
Kaia
sea, modern name from kai
KYE-ah🌊💧Girl
Kaimana
power of the sea, diamond
kye-MAH-nah🌊💪Unisex
kai+mana
Kainoa
the namesake, also read as the free sea
kye-NOH-ah🌊🕊️Unisex
ka+inoa+noa
Nalu
wave, surf
NAH-loo🌊💧Unisex
Ailana
island (from the English loanword)
eye-LAH-nah🌊🏝️Girl
Hanalei
crescent bay, lei-making
hah-nah-LAY🌊🌺Girl
hana+lei
Kaikoa
sea warrior
kye-KOH-ah🌊🛡️Boy
kai+koa
Kailea
sea of joy
kye-LEH-ah🌊😊Girl
kai+leʻa
Kainalu
billowing sea, surf
kye-NAH-loo🌊💧Boy
kai+nalu
Kanaloa
god of the ocean and voyaging
kah-nah-LOH-ah🌋🌊Boy
Kapena
captain
kah-PEH-nah🌊💪Boy
Kekai
the sea
keh-KYE🌊💧Unisex
ke+kai
Keone
the sand, the homeland
keh-OH-neh🏝️🌊Boy
ke+one
Lanikai
heavenly sea
lah-nee-KYE🌊✨Unisex
lani+kai
Leimomi
pearl lei, child of pearls
lay-MOH-mee🌊🌸Girl
lei+momi
Lulu
calm, sheltered, peaceful
LOO-loo🕊️🌊Girl
Makena
abundance, a beach on Maui
mah-KEH-nah🎁🌊Girl
Manō
shark
mah-NOH🌊💪Boy
Momi
pearl
MOH-mee🌊🌸Girl
Naiʻa
dolphin
NYE-ah🌊🌿Girl
Nāinoa
the namesakes, name of navigator Nainoa Thompson
nye-NOH-ah🌊⭐Boy
nā+inoa
Ehukai
sea spray
eh-hoo-KYE🌊💧Unisex
ehu+kai
Hōkūleʻa
star of gladness, the star Arcturus
hoh-koo-LEH-ah⭐😊🌊Unisex
hōkū+leʻa
Honu
green sea turtle
HOH-noo🌊🌿Unisex
Kaʻahupāhau
the shark goddess who guards Pearl Harbor
kah-ah-hoo-PAH-how🌋🌊Girl
Kaʻaukai
seafarer, one who travels by sea
kah-ow-KYE🌊Boy
ka+ʻaukai
Kahakai
the seashore, the beach
kah-hah-KYE🌊🏝️Unisex
Kailua
two seas, two currents
kye-LOO-ah🌊Unisex
kai+lua
Kaimālie
calm sea
kye-mah-LEE-eh🌊🕊️Unisex
kai+mālie
Kaʻiwa
the frigate bird
kah-EE-vah🐦🌊Unisex
ka+ʻiwa
Kamoana
the ocean
kah-moh-AH-nah🌊Unisex
ka+moana
Kapalua
two borders, arms embracing the sea
kah-pah-LOO-ah🌊Girl
kapa+lua
Kaʻupena
the fishing net
kah-oo-PEH-nah🌊Boy
ka+ʻupena
Kealaikahiki
the pathway to Tahiti, the channel used by voyagers
keh-ah-lah-ee-kah-HEE-kee🌊⭐Boy
ke+ala+i+Kahiki
Kekaimalu
the peaceful sea
keh-kye-MAH-loo🌊🕊️Boy
ke+kai+malu
Koholā
humpback whale
koh-hoh-LAH🌊💪Boy
Kuʻuleimomi
my pearl lei
koo-oo-lay-MOH-mee❤️🌊Girl
Nāmaka
the eyes, sea goddess, sister of Pele
NAH-mah-kah🌊🌋Girl
nā+maka
Naupaka
a beach shrub whose half-flowers recall a legend of separated lovers
now-PAH-kah🌺🌊🌋Girl

Other meanings

Questions people ask

What Hawaiian girl names mean ocean?

Kailani (sea and sky), Kaia (sea, modern name from kai), Ailana (island (from the English loanword)), Hanalei (crescent bay, lei-making), Kailea (sea of joy), Leimomi (pearl lei, child of pearls).

What Hawaiian boy names mean ocean?

Kaikoa (sea warrior), Kainalu (billowing sea, surf), Kanaloa (god of the ocean and voyaging), Kapena (captain), Keone (the sand, the homeland), Manō (shark).