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

• Behind the Name: Samoan Surnames
• Behind the Name: Samoan Given Names

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

FamilySearch Library

Additional sources are listed in the FamilySearch Catalog:

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