Maori Baby Names

Maori baby names carry the sound, history and meaning of the Maori naming tradition. Our collection holds 52 Maori names, 22 for boys and 22 for girls, each with its own meaning, origin notes, popularity and numerology. Browse the names below and follow any one for its full profile.

Whether you are drawn to Maori names for heritage, for their sound, or simply for a meaning that resonates, this page is a living list that grows as we research and add more. Names are shown with the most prominent first.

How Māori names are chosen

A Māori name is described as gifted rather than chosen. Many are ingoa tūpuna, taken from an ancestor, which passes that ancestor's mana to the child and fixes their place in whakapapa — the genealogical layering that Apirana Ngata described as laying each generation upon the one before. A name may instead be bestowed by a kaumātua who has read something in the child's wairua. Historically a person carried one name at a time but might take a new one as their circumstances changed, which in an oral culture worked as a way of keeping collective memory attached to events.

Maori names & meanings

AtaahuaBeautiful — memorable across culturesMaori · Numerology 8AwhinaTo help, to support — gentle, modern and genuinely meaningfulMaori · Numerology 11Hemi(James) — distinctive without trying too hardMaori · Numerology 8KiriTree bark; skin — distinctive without trying too hardMaori · Numerology 11NgaioClever; (a native tree) — understated and quietly elegantMaori · Numerology 1Pania(a sea maiden of the reef) — timeless and effortless to sayMaori · Numerology 5RawiriBeloved; (David) — understated and quietly elegantMaori · Numerology 6TaneMan; (the god of forests) — a classic with a fresh edgeMaori · Numerology 4TipeneA crown; (Stephen) — a name with quiet staying powerMaori · Numerology 33WaimarieGood fortune; calm waters — full of character and easy to loveMaori, Polynesian · Numerology 7WairuaSpirit, soul — memorable across culturesMaori · Numerology 1AnaheraAngel — a classic with a fresh edgeMaori · Numerology 3AnaruManly, brave; (Andrew) — a name with quiet staying powerMaori · Numerology 1AniwaniwaRainbow — a name with quiet staying powerMaori · Numerology 5ArikiA chief, a high-born lord — understated and quietly elegantMaori · Numerology 3ArohaLove, compassion — a name with quiet staying powerMaori · Numerology 7ErueraWealthy guardian; (Edward) — a small name carrying real depthMaori · Numerology 5HareManly; (Charlie) — soft-sounding with strong rootsMaori · Numerology 5HineataA girl of the dawn — a small name carrying real depthMaori · Numerology 4Hinemoa(a legendary maiden) — full of character and easy to loveMaori · Numerology 11HoaniGod is gracious; (John) — rooted yet ready to travelMaori · Numerology 11HoriA farmer; (George) — understated and quietly elegantMaori · Numerology 5Huia(a sacred native bird) — a name with quiet staying powerMaori · Numerology 3KahurangiPrecious treasure; sky blue — gentle, modern and genuinely meaningfulMaori · Numerology 9KatarainaPure; (Katherine) — a classic with a fresh edgeMaori · Numerology 4Kauri(the great kauri tree) — understated and quietly elegantMaori · Numerology 6KuraRed; a precious treasure — distinctive without trying too hardMaori · Numerology 6Mahuika(the goddess of fire) — soft-sounding with strong rootsMaori · Numerology 1ManaakiTo care for, to support — a small name carrying real depthMaori · Numerology 5Manaia(a guardian spirit); handsome — distinctive without trying too hardMaori · Numerology 3ManawaThe heart — rooted yet ready to travelMaori · Numerology 8MaramaThe moon; light — distinctive without trying too hardMaori · Numerology 2MareikuraA heavenly noblewoman — memorable across culturesMaori, Polynesian · Numerology 7MarinoCalm, peaceful, still waters — warm, characterful and easy to wearMaori · Numerology 7MatiuGift of God; (Matthew) — gentle, modern and genuinely meaningfulMaori · Numerology 1Maui(the demigod trickster of legend) — a small name carrying real depthMaori · Numerology 8MihiA greeting; to acknowledge — distinctive without trying too hardMaori · Numerology 3MikaereWho is like God; (Michael) — a classic with a fresh edgeMaori · Numerology 8NgaireFlax — warm, characterful and easy to wearMaori · Numerology 9Nikau(the native nikau palm) — gentle, modern and genuinely meaningfulMaori · Numerology 2PaoraSmall, humble; (Paul) — timeless and effortless to sayMaori · Numerology 6PitaA rock; (Peter) — a small name carrying real depthMaori · Numerology 1RangatiraA chief, a noble leader — distinctive without trying too hardMaori · Numerology 8RangiThe sky; (the sky father) — rooted yet ready to travelMaori · Numerology 4RangimariePeace, peaceful sky — a name with quiet staying powerMaori · Numerology 5RoimataTeardrops — memorable across culturesMaori · Numerology 5Rongo(the god of peace and cultivation) — full of character and easy to loveMaori · Numerology 33TamaA son; a boy — memorable across culturesMaori · Numerology 8Tui(the native tui songbird) — warm, characterful and easy to wearMaori · Numerology 5WaiataA song — memorable across culturesMaori · Numerology 1WhetuA star — rooted yet ready to travelMaori · Numerology 5WiremuResolute protector; (William) — full of character and easy to loveMaori · Numerology 8

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Frequently Asked Questions

+What are some popular Maori baby names?

Well-known Maori names in our collection include Ataahua, Awhina, Hemi, Kiri, Ngaio. Each name links to a full profile with its meaning, origin, popularity and numerology.

+How many Maori names are listed here?

We currently list 52 Maori names — 22 for boys and 22 for girls, and the collection grows regularly as we research and add more.

+How do I choose a Maori name?

Start from the meaning you want for your child, then read the full profile for pronunciation, popularity and sibling-name ideas. You can also use our name, sibling and middle-name tools to refine your shortlist.