Hawaiian Name Finder

Samoan Names and Meanings

42 Samoan names for girls, boys, and any child, with meanings and pronunciation. Traditional names from Samoan legend sit alongside the Bible names that became Samoan after 1830.

42 names · 14 girl · 14 boy · 14 unisex

Samoan girl names

NameGenderMeaningPronunciation
AlofaGirllove, compassionah-LOH-fah
ElisapetaGirlSamoan form of Elizabetheh-lee-sah-PEH-tah
FiafiaGirlhappiness, joy, celebrationfee-ah-FEE-ah
LaniGirlsky, heaven (from lagi, often borrowed from Hawaiian)LAH-nee
LosaGirlrose, Samoan form of RosaLOH-sah
LupeGirldove, pigeonLOO-peh
MaliaGirlSamoan form of Marymah-LEE-ah
MasinaGirlmoonmah-SEE-nah
NafanuaGirlthe war goddess of Samoa, who prophesied the coming of Christianitynah-fah-NOO-ah
PuaGirlflower, the fragrant pua treePOO-ah
SalamasinaGirlthe 16th-century queen who first held all four paramount titles of Samoasah-lah-mah-SEE-nah
SinaGirlwhite, silver, the heroine of the legend of Sina and the Eel, which explains the origin of the coconutSEE-nah
TeuilaGirlred torch ginger, the national flower of Samoateh-oo-EE-lah
VaiGirlwaterVYE

Samoan boy names

NameGenderMeaningPronunciation
IoaneBoySamoan form of Johnee-oh-AH-neh
IosefaBoySamoan form of Josephee-oh-SEH-fah
MalietoaBoybrave warrior, one of Samoa's four paramount chiefly titlesmah-lee-eh-TOH-ah
MalosiBoystrong, powerfulmah-LOH-see
MikaeleBoySamoan form of Michaelmee-kah-EH-leh
PeteloBoySamoan form of Peterpeh-TEH-loh
SemisiBoySamoan form of Jamesseh-MEE-see
SiaosiBoySamoan form of Georgesee-ah-OH-see
TagaloaBoythe creator god of Samoan and wider Polynesian traditiontah-ngah-LOH-ah
TamaBoyboy, sonTAH-mah
TavitaBoySamoan form of Davidtah-VEE-tah
ToaBoywarrior, brave, the ironwood treeTOH-ah
TuiBoyking, a paramount chiefly title (Tui Manuʻa, Tui Atua)TOO-ee
TuilagiBoychief of the heavenstoo-ee-LAHNG-ee

Unisex Samoan names

NameGenderMeaningPronunciation
FetuUnisexstarFEH-too
FilemuUnisexpeace, quietfee-LEH-moo
LagiUnisexsky, heavenLAHNG-ee
LeleUnisexto fly, to leapLEH-leh
LotoUnisexheart, will, inner selfLOH-toh
MālamaUnisexlight, to care forMAH-lah-mah
ManaiaUnisexbeautiful, handsome, pleasantmah-NYE-ah
ManuUnisexbirdMAH-noo
MoanaUnisexocean, deep seamoh-AH-nah
OlaUnisexlifeOH-lah
SamiUnisexsea, salt waterSAH-mee
SiliUnisexbest, supreme, highestSEE-lee
TasiUnisexone, uniqueTAH-see
UilaUnisexlightningoo-EE-lah

How Samoan names work

Samoan (Gagana Sāmoa) has the same Polynesian roots as Hawaiian but kept sounds Hawaiian lost. g is pronounced “ng”, so Lagi (sky) is LAHNG-ee, and f and s appear where Hawaiian has h. Most Samoans carry a Christian first name adapted to Samoan sounds (Tavita for David, Ioane for John, Malia for Mary) and a family name that is often a chiefly title.

Traditional names describe nature or virtues, Masina (moon), Fetu (star), Teuila (the red ginger flower), Alofa (love), Filemu (peace), and Malosi (strength). Names from legend, such as Sina, Nafanua, and Salamasina, are used with pride but also with care, since some belong to specific families.

Chiefly titles versus given names

Names like Malietoa, Tui Atua, and Tuilagi are matai titles conferred by a family, not ordinary given names. They are included here for reference because they appear as surnames and in the news, but a child would not usually be given one as a first name.

More Polynesian names

Questions people ask

What are popular Samoan girl names?

Sina, Malia, Teuila, Alofa, Losa, Lupe, Masina, Fiafia, and Elisapeta are among the most common Samoan girl names.

What are popular Samoan boy names?

Tavita, Ioane, Iosefa, Petelo, Mikaele, Siaosi, Semisi, Malosi, and Toa are common Samoan boy names. Most are Samoan forms of biblical names.

What does Sina mean in Samoan?

Sina means white or silver. It is the name of the heroine of the legend of Sina and the Eel, in which the first coconut tree grows from the head of an eel who loved her.