Hawaiian Names Meaning Tree or Plant

Koa, maile, ulu, and kalia are native plants with deep cultural meaning.

Spotlight · names meaning tree

Koa
“brave, bold, fearless, the koa tree”
koa (warrior, brave, the koa hardwood)
KOH-ahBoy
Maile
“the maile vine, a fragrant lei plant”
maile (Alyxia stellata)
MY-lehGirl
Kalia
“the kalia tree, modern Hawaiian-style name”
kalia (Elaeocarpus bifidus, a native tree)
kah-LEE-ahGirl

Updated September 26, 2026

11 names · 4 girl · 2 boy · 5 unisex

The Hawaiian words for tree

These are the words the names below are built from. Each links to a definition and every name that uses it.

More words for tree: mokihana (a fragrant native berry), lau (leaf), nahele (forest).

Strength
Koa
“brave, bold, fearless, the koa tree”
Pronounced KOH-ah
Boy
Flower
Maile
“the maile vine, a fragrant lei plant”
Pronounced MY-leh
Girl
Nature
Kalia
“the kalia tree, modern Hawaiian-style name”
Pronounced kah-LEE-ah
Girl
Nature
Liko
“leaf bud, newly opened leaf, child”
Pronounced LEE-koh
Unisex
Nature
Ululani
“heavenly breadfruit”
Pronounced oo-loo-LAH-neeulu + lani
Girl
Hawaiian
Kāneʻohe
“bamboo man”
Pronounced kah-neh-OH-hehkāne + ʻohe
Unisex
Nature
Kaʻohe
“the bamboo”
Pronounced kah-OH-hehka + ʻohe
Unisex
Light
Kukui
“candlenut tree, light, enlightenment”
Pronounced koo-KOO-ee
Unisex
Hawaiian
Lāʻau
“tree, wood, medicine”
Pronounced LAH-ow
Boy
Nature
Ulu
“breadfruit, to grow, inspire”
Pronounced OO-loo
Unisex
Nature
Uluwehi
“lush and green, verdant beauty”
Pronounced oo-loo-VEH-heeulu + wehi
Girl

Other meanings

Sources the Pukui and Elbert Hawaiian Dictionary, Place Names of Hawaii, Nānā i ke Kumu, wehewehe.org, Wiktionary's Hawaiian given names and U.S. Social Security baby-name records. How this site is compiled · Send a correction

Questions people ask

What Hawaiian girl names mean tree?

Maile (the maile vine, a fragrant lei plant), Kalia (the kalia tree, modern Hawaiian-style name), Ululani (heavenly breadfruit), Uluwehi (lush and green, verdant beauty).

What Hawaiian boy names mean tree?

Koa (brave, bold, fearless, the koa tree), Lāʻau (tree, wood, medicine).