What are some Māori names that mean 'strong'?

Nīkau is a Māori name that comes from the name of a palm tree and symbolizes strength. Tāne is another Māori name that means man and represents manhood and power. Rangi means sky in Maori. In Māori and Polynesian mythology, Rangi was the god of the sky. Hence, this name can be considered to reflect positive attributes like power, strength, and divinity.

Are Māori people Polynesian?

The people belonging to the Māori tribe are the indigenous people of mainland New Zealand. They first came from Eastern Polynesia and settled in New Zealand in the 13th century. Māori people were skilled fishermen and hunters who created gardens and grew vegetables. The early Māori were also trained in stone and wood carvings (1).

What baby boy names reflect the culture and traditions of the Māori people?

Rangi is a Māori boy name that means sky. Ranginui, also known as Rangi, was believed to be a God of the sky, according to Māori and other Polynesian mythology. He was also the husband of Papa, the earth goddess. Tane is another name that means man in the Māori language. Tane was the son of Rangi and Papa and the God of light and forests. The existence of such names points to a direction that might suggest that the Māori people were culturally significant and chose names with religious or mythological significance.

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9 Maori Boy Names with Meanings, Starting With M

Written by Shikha Thakur, MBA

Edited by Siddharth Kesiraju, MA, Certification in Relationship Coaching

Fact-checked by Praggya Joshi, MA, BEd

Last Updated on Oct 3, 2023

Illustration: MomJunction Design Team

Name	Gender	Meaning
Marcellino	Boy	From Marcus
Mahaka	Boy	A Ngati Kahungunu Chief
Mohi	Girl	Son; Deliver; Enchanting; One who gives life
Maaka	Boy	Version of Mark; Consecrated to the God Mars
Marcellin	Boy	A form of Marc; From Marcus; Refers to the Roman god of war
Matiu	Boy	God's gift
Mere-Name-Meaning:-Ultimate-Guide-To-Origin,-Variants-&-More	Boy	Sea of bitterness; Rebelliousness; A wished for child
Mikaere	Boy	Who is like God?
Manaaki	Boy	Care; Concern

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Author Editor Fact Checker

Shikha ThakurMBA

Shikha is a writer-turned-editor at MomJunction, with over seven years of experience in the field of content. Having done a certification in Relationship Coaching, her core interest lies in writing articles that guide couples through their courtship to marriage and parenthood.

Read full bio of Shikha Thakur

Siddharth KesirajuMA, Certification in Relationship Coaching

Siddharth holds a certification in Relationship Coaching and a masters degree in communication and journalism from the University of Hyderabad. He has around seven years of experience in various fields of writing and editing.

Read full bio of Siddharth Kesiraju

Praggya JoshiMA, BEd

Praggya Joshi holds a bachelor's degree in Education and a master's in Ancient Indian History from University of Delhi. She has a robust knowledge of literature, society, and ethics. Praggya has been a content writer since 2021, researching and writing on education, health and wellness, and travel.

Read full bio of Praggya Joshi

9 Maori Boy Names with Meanings, Starting With M

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