Find out how popular the first name Alii has been for the last 18 years (from 2006 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Alii by gender

Based on the last 18 years of data, Alii is more commonly used as a male name, with approximately 92% of people named Alii being male.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 8 male babies and 0 female babies born with the name Alii.

The history of the first name Alii

The name Alii has its origins in the Hawaiian language and culture. It is believed to have emerged around the 18th century when the Hawaiian archipelago was first unified under a single kingdom. The name is derived from the Hawaiian word "ali'i," which means "chief" or "royalty."

In ancient Hawaiian society, the ali'i were the ruling class, consisting of high-ranking chiefs and members of the royal family. The name Alii was likely given to children born into these noble lineages as a mark of their elevated status and connection to the ali'i class.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Alii can be found in the accounts of the Hawaiian ruler Kamehameha I, who lived from 1758 to 1819. Kamehameha had several wives and concubines, some of whom bore children with the name Alii.

Throughout Hawaiian history, there have been several notable individuals bearing the name Alii. One prominent figure was Alii Kanakaleihuakalani, who lived in the late 18th century and was a high-ranking ali'i (chief) during the reign of Kamehameha I. Another notable Alii was Alii Nui Emma Rooke, who was a member of the Hawaiian royal family and lived from 1836 to 1885.

In the realm of Hawaiian mythology and folklore, the name Alii is often associated with stories and legends involving the ali'i class and their interactions with the gods and deities of Hawaiian belief systems.

Beyond Hawaii, the name Alii has been adopted by various cultures and communities around the world, though its usage is often inspired by its Hawaiian roots and connotations of nobility and leadership.

Some other notable individuals with the first name Alii include Alii Ngata, a prominent New Zealand scholar and leader of the Māori people who lived from 1874 to 1950; Alii Vahitaki, a French Polynesian politician and former President of French Polynesia, born in 1939; and Alii Mataʻafa Fiameʻe, a Samoan politician and former Head of State of Samoa, born in 1928.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Alii was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Alii, please contact us.

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