Maui Unisex
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: MOW-ee //ˈmaʊ.i//
Origin: Hawaiian; Maori
Meaning: Hawaiian: 'the god of the wind and sea'; Maori: 'to be brave'
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Maui has its origins in Polynesian mythology, specifically from the Hawaiian culture, where it is associated with the demigod Māui, a central figure known for his cleverness and trickster qualities. The etymology of the name can be traced back to the Proto-Polynesian *māui, which means 'to be in a state of being' or 'to be alive.' This linguistic root reflects the cultural significance of the name within the context of Hawaiian traditions and storytelling, where Māui is celebrated for his feats, such as fishing up islands and bringing fire to mankind.
Historically, Māui appears in various Polynesian myths across different islands, including New Zealand and Tahiti, indicating the widespread reverence for this figure in the broader Polynesian cultural sphere. The tales of Māui were orally transmitted for centuries before being documented in the 19th century, with significant collections of these stories appearing in the late 1800s.
The introduction of Christianity and the subsequent translation of the Bible into Hawaiian in the 19th century also played a role in shaping the cultural landscape in which the name Māui was situated, although the name itself remained tied to its mythological roots. Culturally, the name Maui embodies themes of adventure, ingenuity, and the connection between humanity and nature, reflecting the values of Polynesian societies.
The enduring legacy of Māui as a cultural hero has made the name significant in various forms of art, literature, and performance, reinforcing its importance in Hawaiian identity. The name is sometimes affectionately shortened to 'Mau,' which carries similar connotations of strength and resilience, further highlighting the name's deep roots in the cultural consciousness of the Pacific Islands.
Fictional characters named Maui
The following list of fictional characters named Maui is a work in progress. If you would like to suggest an additional character, please send us the character's name along with a brief, one-sentence description of what they are best known for.
You may also submit corrections, which we will review and update as quickly as possible.
Maui is a fictional character from the animated film Moana. He is a demigod who helps the titular character on her quest to save her island.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Maui, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.
U.S. Historical Usage
The name Maui was first seen in the United States in 1997.
Maui has ranked as high as #5411 nationally, which occurred in 2017, and has been most popular in California.
In the past 5 years the name Maui has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Maui is part of our comprehensive baby names database, which includes Social Security Administration (SSA) data dating back to 1880—the first official year of state and national tracking. The chart below shows when Maui was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.
Popularity Over Time (National) — Table
We track the national popularity of each baby name annually. The table below displays each year along with the number of births reported by the Social Security Administration. This data combines all state-level reporting from the SSA's baby names database to provide a comprehensive view of overall birth counts for Maui.
| Year | Total Births | Boy | Girl |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 18 | 18 | 0 |
| 2024 | 23 | 17 | 6 |
| 2023 | 21 | 15 | 6 |
| 2022 | 22 | 16 | 6 |
| 2021 | 27 | 22 | 5 |
| 2020 | 26 | 13 | 13 |
| 2019 | 27 | 22 | 5 |
| 2018 | 26 | 20 | 6 |
| 2017 | 52 | 42 | 10 |
| 2016 | 12 | 5 | 7 |
| 2015 | 7 | 0 | 7 |
| 2014 | 15 | 6 | 9 |
| 2013 | 17 | 6 | 11 |
| 2012 | 6 | 0 | 6 |
| 2011 | 13 | 6 | 7 |
| 2010 | 8 | 8 | 0 |
| 2009 | 11 | 11 | 0 |
| 2008 | 14 | 9 | 5 |
| 2007 | 15 | 7 | 8 |
| 2004 | 13 | 8 | 5 |
| 2003 | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| 2002 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| 1997 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
Top States for Maui (2021)
We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. The table below shows the five states with the highest number of births for this name in the selected year. Use the toggle to expand the list to every state with reported births.
| State | Births | Share |
|---|---|---|
| CA | 5 |