Naming your dog can be a fun way to show your aloha. Even if you’re not of a Hawaiian background, you’re probably looking for the perfect name for your pet. Hawaiian and island-inspired dog names are ideal for capturing that special aloha spirit: they’re fun, lyrical, and often a bit laid-back. We’ve rounded up a wide range of Hawaiian dog names to fit any dog, from an energetic Kekoa to a sweet Meli.
We selected our favourite dog names from Hawaii through a combination of outside research and digging through our Rover.com database of dog names worldwide. Most of these names aren’t heard very often at the dog park. Before you dive into the Hawaiian options, check out our list of 2019’s top 100 dog names.
50 Best Hawaiian Dog Names
- Akua (spirit)
- Aloha
- Alamea (precious)
- Aolani (heavenly cloud)
- Awapuhi (ginger)
- Lani (sky)
- Kai (ocean)
- Keiki (child)
- Kekoa (brave one)
- Kio (puddle)
- Kina
- Koa (fearless)
- Kona
- Hanai
- Hilo
- Hula
- Inoki (devoted)
- Lanai
- Leilani
- Lilikoi (passionfruit)
- Lilo
- Lomi
- Lupo (wolf)
- Mahina (moon)
- Makani (wind)
- Mano (shark)
- Maui
- Meli (honey)
- Moana
- Moku (island)
- Nani
- Ohana
- Poi
- Plumeria
- Weuweu (fluffy)
Choosing the Perfect Dog Name
Are you still uncertain about which moniker to choose? You’re not alone. Some dog owners just know their pet is a Lomi or Poi as soon as they make eye contact, but many other pet parents need time to try out various options. If you’re having trouble deciding, keep in mind that a creative dog name can come from many different sources of inspiration, such as your favourite foods, books, celebrities, your heritage, or even dog breed history.
Another consideration when choosing your dog’s name? Dog training. This is of particular importance for puppies. When you’re teaching your new dog to respond to commands like sit, stay, or come, you’ll want to be sure their name isn’t a source of confusion. In other words, avoid puppy names that sound like a common dog training cue, such as “Bit,” which could easily be misheard as “sit.” Many dog experts recommend choosing a name with at least two syllables and a sing-song or vowel sound at the end.
Of course, what matters most is that the dog name you choose rolls off your tongue with ease. You’ll want to select a name that you feel comfortable repeating because you’ll be saying it…a lot. Your dog’s name should make you happy!
We’re fans of the “backdoor test” for dog name selection. It’s pretty much what it sounds like: stand at the back door and call out your new dog‘s potential name. Saying “Lanai, it’s time for dinner!” or “Kai, leave it!” helps take the name out of your imagination and into reality.
More Dog Names
Here at Rover, we find dog names absolutely fascinating, and we love searching through our data on the topic to discover hot trends, quirky choices, and unique twists on classics. Over the years, we’ve compiled plenty of names for you to peruse—and we keep our lists updated with new dog name data each year. You can also check out our list of unique dog names or take a look at our list of celebrity-inspired dog names!
The Dog Name Generator
If you need some more name inspiration, check out our Dog Name Generator! We’ll delve into our huge Rover database of dog names and based on the information you provide, we’ll give you some dog-name-related intel. We’ll tell you the two most popular dog names for your dog’s breed and gender, and if you’re looking for a name that stands out from the pack, you’re in luck! We’re throwing in a third, decidedly random option that’s just for fun. That’s right, we won’t just give you one result, we’ll give you three whole dog names to choose from! Then we’ll leave it up to you to decide if your new addition is more of a Lola or a Lady Dandelion.
