Samoa Naming Customs

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Samoa

Personal Names

Understanding customs used in surnames and given names can help you identify your ancestors in records. Learn to recognize name variations and see clues in names.

Online Tools

• The 100 Samoan Last Names With Meanings And History
• Samoan Baby Names
• Most Common Last Names In Samoa
• Samoan Last Names
• Best Samoan Last Names and Meanings

Given Names

The meaning of a given name is important when naming a child in the Samoan community:

personal traits: Malosi (strong), Umi (tall), Vave (fast), Faiaivale (foolish)

religious: Toefuata’igaoletalalelei (restoration of the Gospel)

events: Dodiana (this name was created to commemorate Dodi Fayed and Princess Diana's death)

objects: Tala (dollar)

animals: Maile (dog)

descriptive: Leilani (heavenly flower)

traditional: Pua’a’elo (this was the name of a Samoan high chief)

For Further Reading

• A GUIDE TO NAMES AND NAMING PRACTICES, UK Names Guide