Hawaiian Names Meaning Wisdom or Righteousness

Pono is righteousness and balance, kumu is the source and the teacher. These names value character.

Spotlight · names meaning wisdom

Pono
“righteousness, goodness, balance”
pono (proper, moral, in harmony)
POH-nohUnisex
Kaʻimi
“the seeker”
kathe+ʻimito seek
kah-EE-meeUnisex
Kapono
“the righteous one, the good”
kathe+ponorighteous, proper
kah-POH-nohBoy

Updated September 26, 2026

16 names · 0 girl · 6 boy · 10 unisex

The Hawaiian words for wisdom

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

More words for wisdom: laʻa (sacred), loea (skill), loko (inside), manaʻo (thought), naʻau (gut), palapala (writing), pule (prayer), ʻuhane (soul).

Peace
Pono
“righteousness, goodness, balance”
Pronounced POH-noh
Unisex
Hawaiian
Kaʻimi
“the seeker”
Pronounced kah-EE-meeka + ʻimi
Unisex
Peace
Kapono
“the righteous one, the good”
Pronounced kah-POH-nohka + pono
Boy
Strength
Kūpono
“honest, upright, fair”
Pronounced koo-POH-nohkū + pono
Boy
Peace
Ahonui
“patience, perseverance”
Pronounced ah-hoh-NOO-eeaho + nui
Unisex
Strength
Alakaʻi
“leader, to guide”
Pronounced ah-lah-KAH-ee
Unisex
Hawaiian
Hilinaʻi
“trust, confidence”
Pronounced hee-lee-NAH-ee
Unisex
Strength
Kaʻeo
“zealous, full of knowledge”
Pronounced kah-EH-oh
Boy
Peace
Kaulike
“equality, justice, balance”
Pronounced kow-LEE-keh
Unisex
Royal
Kekaulike
“equality, an 18th-century king of Maui”
Pronounced keh-kow-LEE-kehke + kaulike
Boy
Hawaiian
Kekumu
“the source, the teacher, the foundation”
Pronounced keh-KOO-mooke + kumu
Boy
Hawaiian
Kumu
“teacher, source, foundation”
Pronounced KOO-moo
Unisex
Strength
Kūpaʻa
“steadfast, loyal, firm”
Pronounced koo-PAH-ahkū + paʻa
Boy
Hawaiian
Loea
“expert, skilled person”
Pronounced loh-EH-ah
Unisex
Hawaiian
Maikaʻi
“good, fine, well”
Pronounced my-KAH-ee
Unisex
Light
Naʻauao
“wisdom, enlightened”
Pronounced nah-ow-OWnaʻau + ao
Unisex

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 wisdom?

The unisex names Pono, Kaʻimi, Ahonui, Alakaʻi are used for girls.

What Hawaiian boy names mean wisdom?

Kapono (the righteous one, the good), Kūpono (honest, upright, fair), Kaʻeo (zealous, full of knowledge), Kekaulike (equality, an 18th-century king of Maui), Kekumu (the source, the teacher, the foundation), Kūpaʻa (steadfast, loyal, firm).