The Gida Initiative - protecting Motu cultural heritage
Motu Personal Names,
including commonly borrowed names
In the traditional Motu naming system, one's surname is one's father's given name.
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Select a name from this menu:
A B D E G Ḡ(Q) H I K L M N O P R S T U V
Key: m = male, f = female, m+f = unisex
A
MOTU
Abe
Abigu - f. ('take me')
Agalu - m.
Aqi (Aḡi) - m (Hanuabada name)
Ahuta - f.
Aiva - f. (Hanuabada name)
Ako - m.
Amini?
Anidika -
Ao - m.
Arere - f.
Arua - m+f. ('flow of a river')Asi - f, 'without'
Asi - m (prefix 'without')
Asiani -
Ato - f ('to place', 'to put')
​
​
BORROWED
Abi - a contraction of the English, 'Albert'
Airi - (Maiva?)
Aisi - - (Maiva?)
Alu - m (Hula/Hura)
Ani - f (from English 'Anne')
Ano?
Areni - (English), m, Alan, Allan, Allen
Araidi - m (Suau)
Agarobe?
Apana (not a Hanuabada name, possibly Aroma or Hura)
Ase?
Asilakwana - m, 'without provisions'?
Asiqau (Asiḡau)?
Atai?
Avia - f. (Kairuku/Maiva name)
B
MOTU
Baeau - f,
Badu - m. ('anger')
Baia - f, ('cautious', 'with trepidation')
Bala - m.
Baru - m.
Bau - m. ('bamboo')
Bede - f,
Bele - f,
Bemu - f.
Biga?
Bita - m. ('rat')
Bitu - m. 'to break off', 'to snap' (Porebada name)
Bobola - m. (Porebada name)
Boge - f, 'sea eagle'
Boio - f. 'lost'
Boko - m. (Hohodae name)
Boroma?
Boromu?
Buruka - f, 'old'​
Busina - m. (Porebada name)
​
BORROWED
Bobi (English), m, Bobby
Boni (English), f, Bonnie
Baseau?
Bera?
Bibi?
Biri?
Boe - m. (from English, 'buoy')
Boka?
Bou? (the shell used for making toea - cowry)
Butu ('to weed')
D
MOTU
Name, gender, meaning
Daera - m+f. (meaning = ?)
Dago - m.(meaning = ?)
Dagu - m+f (suffix 'in surprise' eg lolodagu, to scream in surprise)
Dai - m+f ('to soak')
Dairi - m+f ('to wet by pouring over')
Daroa - m. ('to sweep')
Daure - m. ('startled')
Davai - m. (meaning = ?)
Davara - f. ('the sea')
Diari - f. ('the light', 'shine')
Diho - m+f. (to descend')
Dika - f. ('bad')
Dikana - m+f ('spoiled', 'bad', 'rotten')
Dimere - f. (Porebada)
Dobi - f. (Hanuabada name)
Doqodo (Doḡodo) - m. (meaning = ?)
Dori - (m? f? Porebada name?)
Doriqa (Doriḡa) -m+f (meaning = ?)
Doura - (m.? meaning = ?)
Douna - m. (meaning = ?)
​
BORROWED
Name, gender, source, original name
Davida - m (English) David
E
MOTU
Name, gender, meaning
Ebore, m (sometimes f in some villages. Tubusereia name?)
Edai - exclusive name of Mr Edai Siabo
Edea - m.? (only child)
Eqahu (Eḡahu) (possibly a Koitabu name, from Hohodae)
Eno - m. ('lie down to sleep')
Erara - m. ('bled', 'to bleed')
Ere - f. ('voice')
Erue - m+f (meaning = ?)
Eure - m. (meaning = ?)
BORROWED
Name, gender, source, original name
G
MOTU
Name, gender, meaning
Gaba - 'drum'
Gabe, m+f ('later')
Gabutu
Gaimea?
Gamoga
Ganiga
Garau
Gari
Gaudi?
Gavera -
Gaveaua?
Gari - 'fear'
Gau?
Gegera?
Geda
Gege -
Geno? or Qeno?
Geru
Geua
Gini
Girigi
Goada - 'strength'
Goava
Gorohu
Gou
Guba
Gudu
Guru/Quru?
BORROWED
Name, gender, source, original name
H
MOTU
Name, gender, meaning
Hairai?
Hale
Hane - 'woman'
Hanua - 'village'
Haoda?
Havata?
Heau
Heaḡi (Heaqi)
Hebou - 'gather', 'a gathering'
Hedaro
Hedu?
Heduru?
Hegame?
Heita?
Hekure
Helai
Henao - 'steal'
Heni - 'give'
Hera?
Herea?
Hereva?
Hetahu?
Hetoa?
Hetura?
Hevaere?
Hevave
Hila
Hitolo - 'hunger'
Hurekau
Hoeke (?Hoeka?)
Homoka
Hore?
Hota?
Hurekau, f (to wash ashore) A name from Tatana Village.
​
​
BORROWED
Name, gender, source, original name
Hare - m (English) 'Harry'
K
MOTU
Name, gender, meaning
​
Kaema?
Kapena
Kari
Kaia - f, 'knife'
Kala?
Kalo?
Karava?
Kariko?
Karo?
Kaukiri
Kea?
Kedea?
Keke
Keruma - 'cold'
Kerumata
Kevau
Kinivanaqi (Kinivanaḡi)
Kiri
Koani
Kohu
Koi
Koita
Kone
Konio
Kopi
Kora?
Kori
Kua
Kumuku
Kwalimu
Kwarara?
​
BORROWED
Name, gender, source, original name
Keni - m (English), Kenny
Kenise - m (English) Genesis (in Manumanu)
M
MOTU
Name, gender, meaning
Maba
Mabata
Madaha
Mahuru
Mahuta
Mai?
Maino?
Mairi?
Maiva? (Kairuku name?)
Mala
Malo?
Manoka
Manu?
Maraga?
Marava
Mareva
Mase?
Mautaia?
Mavara
Mea - m+f, 'hex'
Meisi
Metue?
Mia
Miria
Moide
Morea - m+f (nickname, 'Moki')
Moi [only Boera?]
Momo?
Momoru
Motu?
BORROWED
Name, gender, source, original name
Mareko - m (English) Mark
Materua - (Rarotonga)
Meri - f (English) Mary
Mere -f (English) Mary (in Manumanu)
Mereani - f (English) Maryanne
Mose - m (Hebrew) Moses
R
MOTU
Name, gender, meaning
Rabona?
Rabu?
Raera - f
Raga?
Rahe -
Raho
Raka - f, 'walk'
Rakatani
Rabura?
Ranu - f, 'water'
Ranuinu
Rarua - m, 'two of people'
Rava
Ravini
Rea?
Renaqi (Renaḡi)
Reva
Revo - m+f
Rima
Riva?
Rotona
Ruma
​
BORROWED
Name, gender, source, original name
Rei - m (English) Ray
Ruatoka (Rarotonga)
MOTU
Name, gender, meaning
Tabakau?
Taboro?
Tahu
Tai - f. ('to cry')
Taiboi, f, ('to cry all night')
Talai?
Taravatu
Tato?
Tatoa?
Tau - m, 'man'
Taunakekei?
Taunao
Tiana?
Toa?
Toka
Tonu?
Torea
Toua - m+f, 'to beat a drum'
Toutu
Tuana?
Tuaru?
Tuene?
Turana?
Tutara
