My partner is part Maori and we thought having a Maori middle name would be a nice way to honour his heritage. We are finding it hard to pick names we like though. For a girl we will be having a [name_f]Harriet[/name_f], know as [name_f]Hattie[/name_f], I have one idea of Marama as a I knew a Maori when I lived in [name_m]New[/name_m] Zealand with that name and it’s stuck with me. If it’s a boy we are thinking [name_m]Huxley[/name_m], will be Hux but we don’t have any ideas. Help!
I think this is a wonderful idea and there are some lovely Maori names. Beautiful language! As a 2nd name, does it absolutely have to be a totally set ‘name’?
Ngaire - I like.
Hine -meaning girl, followed by another morpheme, but the two ‘H’ names would not be so good.
There are lists of some names - I have never seen an extensive list which is why I said about using even a lovely word. Can your partner help?
I answered your thread particularly as an an Aussie who knows something of the Culture. (can sing the anthem , 4 songs and 2 Hakas in Maori)
It would be a good idea I think - such proud Heritage- really well liked- You can only hope the choice is liked by your child.
Our family property and g/grandmas Gardens in Brisbane have Maori names. Good luck.
Sorry posted before I added I will dig out my list of names which is not so big, but will re-post.
I’m not terribly familiar with Maori names, but my best friend’s husband had Maori ancestry, and they gave one of their daughters a Maori MN, to honor that, Anahira. Which I think is gorgeous! If I’m remembering correctly, it means “angel”?
And that’s about the extent of my Maori knowledge, but I found these online, too:
Boys:
Hemi (Maori form of [name_u]James[/name_u], apparently! I knew my best friend had wanted to use Hemi as a MN if she’d had all boys (she had triplets), but she had two girls and a boy, and so [name_m]Caspar[/name_m] Hemi didn’t get used. I hadn’t known it was Maori, but I think it’s pretty cool, although maybe too rhymey for [name_m]Huxley[/name_m]. [name_m]Huxley[/name_m] Hemi?)
Anaru (Maori form of [name_m]Andrew[/name_m])
Manaia
Petera (Maori form of [name_m]Peter[/name_m])
Paora (Maori form of [name_m]Paul[/name_m])
Piripi (Maori form of [name_m]Philip[/name_m])
Tamati ([name_m]Thomas[/name_m])
Timoti ([name_m]Timothy[/name_m])
Patariki ([name_m]Patrick[/name_m])
Wiremu ([name_m]William[/name_m])
Nikora ([name_m]Nicholas[/name_m], or [name_f]Nicole[/name_f])
[name_f]Moana[/name_f] (“ocean”)
Hohepa ([name_m]Joseph[/name_m])
Kauri
Manaia (probably my favorite, in addition to Hemi–I think Manaia and Hemi are really cool!)
Girls:
[name_f]Aroha[/name_f] (“love”)
Huhana ([name_f]Susan[/name_f])
[name_f]Kiri[/name_f]
Manaia (unisex, apparently)
[name_f]Moana[/name_f] (also unisex)
Mere ([name_f]Mary[/name_f])
Roimata (“teardrop”)
Ruiha ([name_f]Louisa[/name_f])
Waimarie (“good luck”)
Whetu (“star”)
I got these from this link: http://www.behindthename.com/names/usage/maori. There was a couple more, but they were either already mentioned here, or I didn’t think they were terribly usable (although, if it’s a MN, it’s probably not too bad).
I think I also heard that Mariama is a Maori form of [name_f]Miriam[/name_f]/[name_f]Mary[/name_f], which I also think is beautiful! It’s probably because I love the funky -ma ending, and I adore [name_f]Mariana[/name_f] as well.
Good luck!
Thank you so much ladies! Some really nice suggestions and advice. [name_f]Moana[/name_f] really stands out and I’m talking to my OH tonight. Xx
Ariki and Te Ariki are both names I’m seeing a lot on wee boys at the moment. It means chief/king.
Aramoana is another one for girls, meaning pathway to the sea.
[name_m]Hi[/name_m]
There is a great list here:
http://www.dia.govt.nz/press.nsf/d77da9b523f12931cc256ac5000d19b6/18983b92b09bcf73cc257d1d00832439!OpenDocument
My personal faves would be:
Girls
[name_f]Aroha[/name_f], Tui, [name_f]Maia[/name_f], [name_f]Anika[/name_f], [name_f]Moana[/name_f], [name_f]Hana[/name_f], [name_f]Amaia[/name_f].
Boys
Tamati, [name_u]Tai[/name_u], [name_f]Tama[/name_f], Manaia, [name_m]Nikau[/name_m], [name_m]Tane[/name_m].
As I’m sure you know, the pronounciation of Maori vowels differs to English, so some of those names would require a bit of practice to begin with.
Good luck!
Thank you!