Polynesian Place Name Generator
Towns, villages, bays and peaks across Polynesia
Generate Polynesian place names for maps, stories and games: towns like Whakatāne and Nukuʻalofa, villages like Salelologa and Arorangi, bays like Hanalei and Opunohu Bay, and peaks like Mount Orohena and Te Manga.
About Polynesian place names
Polynesian place names read like a family of cousins. The word for a bay or harbor is Whanga in Māori, Faga in Samoan, Hana in Hawaiian, Hana or Haka in the Marquesas and Hanga on Rapa Nui, which is why Whangaroa, Fagatogo, Hanalei, Hakahau and Hanga Roa sound related. Water is wai or vai, an islet is motu, land is nuku, and a mountain is maunga, mauga or mauna. Many Samoan villages open with Sa, a prefix for a family or clan, or with Fale, house.
The list runs across the whole triangle: towns, rivers and peaks of Aotearoa, villages of Samoa and American Samoa, Tongan villages and island groups, the communes, valleys and passes of Tahiti, the Society Islands, the Tuamotus, the Marquesas and the Australs, then the Cook Islands, Niue, Tokelau, Tuvalu, Wallis and Futuna, Rapa Nui, a smaller Hawaiian share and a few Polynesian outliers. Whole islands are kept to a small share.
Māori and Hawaiian names carry their macrons and glottal marks, and Tongan names the glottal mark. Samoan, Tahitian, Cook Islands and the other names use the plain spelling common on maps. Forty Māori names are built from real place-name words, and the rest are real places.
How to choose Polynesian place names
- Stay inside one language for one map. A Samoan coast of Falealupo, Asau and Safotu reads true; Whakatāne or Hanalei beside them does not, because wh, r and h are not sounds of Samoan place names. The same old words turn up there with f, l and s.
- Pick by landform. Whanga, Faga, Hana and Hanga names suit bays, Motu names suit islets, Wai and Vai names suit rivers and springs, and Mount and Maunga names, or a peak such as Te Manga, suit mountains.
- For an invented island, borrow the sound rather than the place. The forty built Māori names, such as Puketūī and Rotokererū, are a better fit for fiction than the name of a real village where people live today.
- Keep the marks when you copy a name. Whakatāne, Līhuʻe and Nukuʻalofa lose their sound without macrons and glottal marks, while plain forms such as Papeete and Salelologa are how those places appear on most maps.
- Check a real name before you print it. The list was de-duplicated and screened, but spellings were not checked against an official gazetteer, and some names belong to more than one place.
Frequently asked questions
What are some real Polynesian town names?
Whakatāne, Rotorua and Ōpōtiki are Māori towns in Aotearoa New Zealand, Nukuʻalofa and Neiafu are in Tonga, and Apia and Salelologa are in Samoa. Avarua is in the Cook Islands, Papeete on Tahiti, Alofi on Niue and Hanga Roa on Rapa Nui. All of them are in the list.
Which names are real and which are built?
Forty Māori compounds are built from place-name words: Puketūī, Motukōtuku, Mangaponga, Awamarino, Rotomarino, Pukekōhū, Maungakōhū, Raekura, Motutoka, Awakirikiri, Pukenīkau, Rotokererū, Waikererū, Tokaroa, Raeroa, Parimā, Paripango, Awahōhonu, Mangatere, Pukeweka, Motuweka, Rotopūkeko, Awakōwhai, Mangarātā, Pukerātā, Whangapai, Whangaiti, Onepai, Onemā, Rotokōtuku, Mangatōtara, Waikōhatu, Pukemahana, Motupango, Waitoetoe, Mangaraupō, Rotowhetū, Whangamārama, Awarimu and Motumānuka. Clear compounds like these often name a real spot somewhere in Aotearoa too, and Awamarino and Waitoetoe do, so look one up before you treat it as invented. Every other entry is meant as the name of a real town, village, district, bay, peak, pass or islet.
Why do names from different islands sound alike?
The Polynesian languages are closely related, so the same words turn up with small sound shifts. Water is wai in Māori and Hawaiian and vai in Samoan, Tongan and Tahitian, and a bay is Whanga, Faga, Hana or Hanga depending on the island group. That is why Waitomo and Vaitele, or Whangapoua and Fagamalo, feel like relatives.
Does the list include Hawaiian places and whole islands?
A smaller share is Hawaiian, such as Hilo, Hanalei and Kealakekua, and island names are a small part too, because the list leans on towns, villages, districts, bays, peaks and passes. One labeled group lies outside the triangle. The Polynesian outliers here are Tikopia, Anuta, Sikaiana, Luangiua, Nukuoro, Kapingamarangi, Takuu, Nukumanu, Aniwa, Emae, Pileni and Taumako.
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All 1,000 Polynesian place names
A: 93 names
- Aakapa
- Aana
- Aasu
- Afaahiti
- Afao
- Afareaitu
- Afega
- Afiamalu
- Afono
- Agugulu
- Ahoa
- Ahurei
- Aiga-i-le-Tai
- Akaaka
- Akahanga
- Akaiami
- Akamaru
- Akaroa
- Akitua
- Alafua
- Alao
- Alapi
- Aleipata
- Aleisa
- Alele
- Alofau
- Alofi
- Alofitai
- Amaile
- Amaluia
- Amanave
- Amaru
- Amatuku
- Amouli
- Amuri
- Anaho Bay
- Anakena
- Anapala Chasm
- Anapoto
- Anatonu
- Anau
- Aniwa
- Anoamaa
- Anuta
- Aoa
- Aoloau
A, continued
- Aopo
- Aotea Harbour
- Apia
- Apolima
- Aratika
- Areora
- Aroa
- Arorangi
- Arue
- Arutanga
- Arutua
- Asaga
- Asau
- Asili
- Atafu
- Atai
- Atiha
- Atua
- Atuona
- Atupa
- Aua
- Auala
- Auasi
- Aufaga
- Aukena
- Aunuu
- Auta
- Avaavaroa Passage
- Avaiki Cave
- Avamoa Pass
- Avana Passage
- Avao
- Avapehi Pass
- Avarua
- Avatele
- Avatiu
- Avatoru
- Avera
- Awahōhonu
- Awakirikiri
- Awakōwhai
- Awamarino
- Awarimu
- ʻAhau
- ʻAlakifonua
- ʻAngaha
- ʻAtata
E: 5 names
- Eketāhuna
- Emae
- Eva
- ʻEua
- ʻEueiki
F: 83 names
- Faaa
- Faaaha
- Faaite
- Faala
- Faanui
- Faaone
- Faaroa Bay
- Faasaleleaga
- Faga
- Fagaalu
- Fagafau
- Fagaitua
- Fagalii
- Fagaloa Bay
- Fagamalo
- Faganeanea
- Fagasa
- Fagatele Bay
- Fagatogo
- Fahefa
- Faiaai
- Faie
- Faioa
- Fakahina
- Fakaifou
- Fakakakai
- Fakaofo
- Fakatopatere
- Falaleu
- Fale Islet
- Falealili
- Falealupo
- Faleapuna
- Faleasao
- Faleasiu
- Faleata
- Falefa
- Falehau
- Falelatai
- Falelima
- Faleloa
F, continued
- Faleniu
- Faleolo
- Faleu
- Faleula
- Falevai
- Fangaleʻounga
- Fangatau
- Fangaua
- Fanuatapu
- Farauru
- Fare
- Fasitoo-tai
- Fasitoo-uta
- Fatai
- Fatausi
- Fataʻulua
- Fatumu
- Fautaua Valley
- Felemea
- Feletoa
- Fenua Fala
- Fetuna
- Fitii
- Fitiuta
- Fiua
- Foa
- Foailalo
- Foailuga
- Fogapoa
- Fogasavaii
- Fogatuli
- Folaha
- Fongafale
- Fotua
- Fotuhaʻa
- Foʻui
- Fuaʻamotu
- Funafala
- Funafuti
- Fusi
- Futiga
- Futu
G: 8 names
- Gagaemauga
- Gagaifomauga
- Gahi
- Garuae Pass
- Garumaoa
- Gataivai
- Gatavake
- Gautavai
H: 84 names
- Haafuasia
- Haakuti
- Haamene
- Haapiti
- Haapu
- Haatofo
- Hahake
- Hakahau
- Hakahetau
- Hakamaii
- Hakatao
- Hakatea Bay
- Hakaui Valley
- Hakupu
- Halagigie Point
- Halaleva
- Halalo
- Haleakalā
- Haleʻiwa
- Hāna
- Hanahevane
- Hanaiapa
- Hanalei
- Hanamenu
- Hanamoenoa Bay
- Hanapaaoa
- Hanapēpē
- Hanatetena
- Hanavave
- Hane
- Hanga Hoonu
- Hanga Oteo
- Hanga Piko
- Hanga Roa
- Hapatoni
- Hatiheu
- Hauru Point
- Hauti
- Hauʻula
- Havae Pass
- Haveluliku
- Haveluloto
H, continued
- Hāwea
- Hāwera
- Hāwī
- Haʻafeva
- Haʻalaufuli
- Haʻano
- Haʻapai
- Haʻasini
- Haʻatafu
- Haʻateiho
- Haʻatuʻa
- Haʻavakatolo
- Haʻikū
- Haʻutu
- Hereheretue
- Hihifo
- Hikurangi
- Hikutavake
- Hilo
- Hio Beach
- Hipu
- Hiruhārama
- Hitiaa
- Hitiaa O Te Ra
- Hitianau
- Hofoa
- Hohoi
- Hoi
- Hokatu
- Hokianga
- Holonga
- Holopeka
- Honokaʻa
- Honolulu
- Hooumi
- Hotuiti
- Houma
- Hunga
- Hunga Haʻapai
- Hunga Tonga
- Hurepiti Bay
- Huvalu Forest
I: 6 names
- Ikitake
- Ikurangi
- Iliili
- Iripau
- Iva
- Ivirua
K: 43 names
- Kahuku
- Kahului
- Kaikohe
- Kaikōura
- Kailua
- Kaitāia
- Kaiteriteri
- Kāneʻohe
- Kanokupolu
- Kao
- Kapa
- Kapalua
- Kapaʻa
- Kapaʻau
- Kapingamarangi
- Kāpiti
- Kapolei
- Katiu
- Kauehi
- Kaunakakai
- Kawakawa
- Kāwhia
- Kealakekua
- Keʻanae
- Kīhei
- Kihikihi
- Kiikii
- Kīlauea
- Kimiangatau
- Kīpahulu
- Kolia
- Kōloa
- Kolofoʻou
- Kolomaile
- Kolomotuʻa
- Kolonga
- Kolopopo
- Kolovai
- Koromiri
- Kotu
- Koulo
- Kūaotunu
- Kulia
L: 50 names
- Lāhainā
- Lake Fauna Nui
- Lake Lalolalo
- Lake Lanotoo
- Lake Vaihiria
- Lakena
- Lakepa
- Lalomalava
- Lalomanu
- Lano
- Lapaha
- Lata Mountain
- Laulii
- Lavegahau
- Lavengatonga
- Lāʻie
- Leauvaa
- Leava
- Lefaga
- Lefagaoalii
- Leifiifi
- Leimatuʻa
- Lelepa
- Leloaloa
- Leone
- Lepa
- Lepea
- Lepuiai
- Letogo
- Letui
- Leulumoega
- Lifuka
- Līhuʻe
- Liku
- Limu Pools
- Lofanga
- Lofeagai
- Lolua
- Lona
- Longolongo
- Longomapu
- Longoteme
- Lotofaga
- Lotofoa
- Lotopa
- Lotopue
- Luangiua
- Luatuanuu
- Lufilufi
- Luma
M: 144 names
- Maasina
- Maatea
- Maeva
- Magiagi
- Mahaena
- Mahanatoa
- Maharepa
- Māhia
- Mahina
- Mahu
- Maina
- Mākaha
- Makaunga
- Makave
- Makawao
- Makefu
- Makemo
- Maketū
- Malaefoou
- Malaeimi
- Malaela
- Malaeloa
- Malapo
- Malie
- Malifa
- Maloata
- Malololelei
- Malua
- Mamaku
- Manapōuri
- Manase
- Mangaponga
- Mangarātā
- Mangaraupō
- Mangatere
- Mangatōtara
- Mangaweka
- Mangawhai
- Mango
- Manono
- Manuka
- Mapumai
- Mapusaga
- Maraerenga
- Mārahau
- Maroe Bay
- Marokau
- Marokopa
M, continued
- Masausi
- Masefau
- Masilamea
- Mata-Utu
- Matafao Peak
- Matahau
- Mataiea
- Matakana
- Matamaka
- Matapa Chasm
- Matatufu
- Matavai
- Matavai Bay
- Matavanu
- Matavera
- Mataveri
- Mataʻaho
- Matira Point
- Matuku
- Matuu
- Mauna Kea
- Maunga Orito
- Maunga Pu
- Maunga Terevaka
- Maungakōhū
- Maungaroa
- Maungatautari
- Maʻufanga
- Mesepa
- Moataa
- Moerai
- Moeraki
- Mōkau
- Mokoia
- Motopu
- Motu Fareone
- Motu Iti
- Motu Kao Kao
- Motu Ko
- Motu Kotawa
- Motu Mute
- Motu Nui
- Motu Oa
- Motu Piti Aau
- Motu Tevairoa
- Motu Toopua
- Motueka
- Motufoua
M, continued
- Motukitiu
- Motukōtuku
- Motumānuka
- Motupango
- Moturakau
- Motutoka
- Motuweka
- Mouaputa
- Mouaroa
- Mount Alava
- Mount Aorai
- Mount Fito
- Mount Hiro
- Mount Lulu Fakahega
- Mount Manureva
- Mount Marau
- Mount Mokoto
- Mount Oave
- Mount Orohena
- Mount Otemanu
- Mount Pahia
- Mount Perau
- Mount Pioa
- Mount Puke
- Mount Rotui
- Mount Silisili
- Mount Taitaa
- Mount Talau
- Mount Tefatua
- Mount Tekao
- Mount Temetiu
- Mount Teurafaatiu
- Mount Tohivea
- Mount Turi
- Mount Vaea
- Moutohorā
- Moʻungaʻone
- Muitoa
- Mulifanua
- Mulinuu
- Mulivai
- Muri
- Muri Lagoon
- Musumusu
- Mutalau
- Mutiatele
- Mutuaura
- Muʻa
N: 47 names
- Nakolo
- Namua
- Namukulu
- Nanumanga
- Nanumea
- Navutoka
- Nāʻālehu
- Neiafu
- Nengonengo
- Ngake
- Ngāruawāhia
- Ngatangiia
- Ngatiarua
- Ngāuruhoe
- Ngeleʻia
- Ngongotahā
- Nikao
- Nikaupara
- Niua
- Niuafoʻou
- Niuatoputapu
- Niulakita
- Niutahi
- Niutao
- Niutoua
- Nofoalii
- Nomuka
- Nua
- Nuapapu
- Nui Atoll
- Nuku
- Nukuatea
- Nukufetau
- Nukuhetulu
- Nukulaelae
- Nukuleka
- Nukuloa
- Nukumanu
- Nukunonu
- Nukunuku
- Nukuoro
- Nukuʻalofa
- Nunue
- Nuulua
- Nuusuatia
- Nuutele
- Nuuuli
O: 36 names
- Ōakura
- Ōamaru
- Ofu
- Ōhakune
- Ōhope
- Ōhura
- Ōkārito
- Ōkataina
- Olosega
- Olowalu
- Ōmāpere
- Ōmarama
- Omoa
- Omoka
- Ōmokoroa
- Onemā
- Onenoa
- Onepai
- Oneroa
- Onoiau Pass
- Ōpihi
- Opoa
- Opononi
- Ōpōtiki
- Ōpunake
- Opunohu Bay
- Ōrewa
- Ōtaki
- Ōtākou
- Ōtāne
- Ōtautau
- Otepa
- Ōtorohanga
- Ovahe
- ʻOhonua
- ʻOʻua
P: 66 names
- Paea
- Paekākāriki
- Pago Pago
- Pāhoa
- Pahua
- Palaha Cave
- Palauli
- Palolo Deep
- Pangai
- Pangaimotu
- Paopao
- Papara
- Papauta
- Papeari
- Papeete
- Papenoo
- Papenoo Valley
- Papetoai
- Papua Passage
- Parea
- Parimā
- Paripango
- Patamea
- Pātea
- Patio
- Pāuanui
- Pavaiai
- Pāʻia
- Pea
- Pelehake
- Petani
- Pileni
- Piopio
P, continued
- Pipiriki
- Pirae
- Pirongia
- Piula
- Poi
- Poike
- Pōkeno
- Poloa
- Pouheva
- Poutasi
- Poutoru
- Povai Bay
- Poʻipū
- Puaikura
- Puamau
- Puapua
- Pue
- Pueu
- Puipaa
- Pukarua
- Pukekōhū
- Pukemahana
- Pukenīkau
- Pukerātā
- Puketūī
- Pukeweka
- Pukotala
- Puleia
- Puna Pau
- Punaauia
- Punakaiki
- Punaluʻu
- Punaruu Valley
R: 34 names
- Raekura
- Raemaru
- Raeroa
- Rairua
- Raitahiti
- Rangimotia
- Rangiriri
- Rangitāiki
- Rangitata
- Rangitīkei
- Rano Aroi
- Rano Kau
- Rano Raraku
- Rapota
- Raraka
- Raroia
- Raukūmara
- Rautini
- Rāwene
- Reureu
- Rikitea
- Rotoava
- Rotoehu
- Rotokererū
- Rotokōtuku
- Rotomā
- Rotomarino
- Rotopūkeko
- Rotorua
- Rotowhetū
- Ruapehu
- Ruatonga
- Rutaki
- Ruutia
S: 55 names
- Saanapu
- Safata
- Safotu
- Safua
- Safune
- Sagaga
- Sagone
- Sailele
- Saipipi
- Salailua
- Salani
- Saleaaumua
- Saleapaga
- Saleaula
- Saleia
- Saleilua
- Saleimoa
- Salelavalu
- Salelesi
- Salelologa
- Salesatele
- Salimu
- Salua
- Samalaeulu
- Samata
- Samatau
- Samauga
- Samusu
- Saoluafata
- Sapapalii
- Sapaʻata
- Sapulu
- Sapunaoa
- Sasina
- Satala
- Sataoa
- Satapuala
- Sataua
- Satitoa
- Satoalepai
- Satuiatua
- Satupaitea
- Savave
- Seetaga
- Senala
- Sigave
- Sikaiana
- Sili
- Siufaga
- Siumu
- Siusega
- Siutu
- Sogi
- Solosolo
- Sopu
T: 148 names
- Taahuaia
- Taakoka
- Taaoa
- Taapuna Pass
- Taelefaga
- Taenga
- Tafahi
- Tafaigata
- Tafitoala
- Tafua
- Tafuna
- Taga
- Tahanea
- Tahauku Bay
- Tahiti Iti
- Tahiti Nui
- Taiarapu
- Taiohae
- Taipivai
- Tairapa Pass
- Tairua
- Tākaka
- Takapau
- Takaue
- Takitumu
- Takume
- Takuu
- Takuvaine
- Talafoʻou
- Talasiu
- Talava Arches
- Tamakautoga
- Tamarua
- Tanugamanono
- Taoa
- Tapatapao
- Tapuaetai
- Tapuamu
- Taputimu
- Taranaki
- Taravai
- Taravao
- Tarawera
- Tatakamotonga
- Tatakoto
- Tauhunu
- Taumako
- Taumarunui
- Taunganui Harbour
T, continued
- Taupiri
- Taupō
- Tautira
- Tautu
- Tavai
- Taʻanea
- Te Aroha
- Te Au O Tonga
- Te Awamutu
- Te Kaha
- Te Kou
- Te Kūiti
- Te Manga
- Te Pari
- Te Rua Manga
- Te Tautua
- Teahupoo
- Teana
- Tearavero
- Teava
- Teavanui Pass
- Teavapiti Pass
- Teavaro
- Teavaroa
- Teenui
- Tefarerii
- Tefisi
- Tekavatoetoe
- Tekopua
- Temae
- Temao
- Temehani Plateau
- Tengatangi
- Tenukupara
- Teone
- Tepa Point
- Tepuka
- Terevaka
- Tetamanu
- Teva I Uta
- Tevaitoa
- Teʻekiu
- Tiahura
- Tiapapata
- Tiarei
- Tiavea
- Tikitere
- Tikopia
- Tipaerui
T, continued
- Tiputa
- Tīrau
- Titikaveka
- Tiva
- Toahotu
- Toahotu Pass
- Toamua
- Toau
- Tofoa
- Tofua
- Togitogiga
- Togo Chasm
- Toi
- Tokaroa
- Tokomololo
- Toloke
- Tongamamaʻo
- Tongaporutu
- Tongariro
- Tongatapu
- Toovii Plateau
- Toula
- Tuaefu
- Tuamasaga
- Tuanai
- Tuapa
- Tuasivi
- Tuatafa
- Tuatapere
- Tufulele
- Tufutafoe
- Tufuvai
- Tuherahera
- Tūhua
- Tukao
- Tukuhora
- Tula
- Tumakohua Pass
- Tumaraa
- Tumaseu
- Tungua
- Tupana
- Tupapa
- Tupapati
- Tūrangi
- Tureia
- Turipaoa
- Tutakimoa
- Tuʻanekivale
- Tuʻanuku
U: 14 names
- Uafato
- Ulutogia
- Ureia
- Urenui
- Utualii
- Utufua
- Utuko Reef
- Utulei
- Utumea
- Uturoa
- ʻUiha
- ʻUoleva
- ʻUtulau
- ʻUtungake
V: 49 names
- Vaa-o-Fonoti
- Vahitahi
- Vaiaau
- Vaiaku
- Vaiala
- Vaianae
- Vaiare
- Vaiea
- Vaiee
- Vaigaga
- Vaihu
- Vailala
- Vailele
- Vailima
- Vailoa
- Vailoatai
- Vaimaanga
- Vaimalau
- Vaimauga
- Vaimoso
- Vaini
- Vaipae
- Vaipaee
- Vaipahi
- Vaipeka
- Vaipoa
- Vaipua
- Vairao
- Vaisala
- Vaisei
- Vaisigano
- Vaitahu
- Vaitape
- Vaitea
- Vaitele
- Vaitoare
- Vaitogi
- Vaitoomuli
- Vaitupu
- Vaiuru
- Vaiusu
- Vaivase
- Vaoala
- Vaotuʻu
- Vaovai
- Vatia
- Vavaʻu
- Veitongo
- Vele
W: 34 names
- Wahiawā
- Waihī
- Waikaremoana
- Waikererū
- Waikīkī
- Waikōhatu
- Waikoloa
- Wailuku
- Waimānalo
- Waimangu
- Waimea
- Waiōuru
- Waipā
- Waipiʻo
- Waipū
- Wairoa
- Waitara
- Waitematā
- Waitoetoe
- Waitomo
- Waiʻanae
- Wakatipu
- Wānaka
- Whakatāne
- Whangaiti
- Whangamārama
- Whangamatā
- Whangamōmona
- Whangapai
- Whangapoua
- Whangārei
- Whangaroa
- Whatawhata
- Whitianga