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© 2026 Namesake · namesake.baby

Data: Social Security Administration, US births 1880–2024

Manaia — Meaning, Origin & Popularity | Namesake
All names
Manahil|Manal
Polynesian◈ Unisex · 52% boy · 48% girl↓ Fading

◈= unisex (gender-neutral)

Manaia

◈

mah-NAH-yah · 3 syllables

Share Manaia:
Compare with another name
Girl
#8735
↓ Fading
Girl
#8735
Popularity score: 8
↓ Fading
Peak
#7128 in 2023
5yr
-1607 ranks
Velocity
-1607
Birth frequency
3.3 per 1,000,000 births
Boy

Outside top 1000

Last ranked #10377 in 2023

Peak: #10377 in 2023

→ Stable
5yr
—
Velocity
—
Birth frequency
1.9 per 1,000,000 births

Popularity Over Time

↑ Higher on this chart = more popular · ↓ Lower = less popular

How Popular Is This Name?

Bars show the range of popularity for each group. The dot shows where this name sits. Further right = more popular.

BOY
Average0255075100Popularity score (0–100)20202023

Rank #10377 · Rising since 2020

This name is given to very few babies each year — it sits outside the range shown in these charts.

GIRL
Average0255075100Popularity score (0–100)20202024

Rank #8735 · Falling since 2020

All US girl names
Top 200 girl names
Polynesian girl names
Manaia

Popularity score: 8  ·  SSA Rank: #8735

Rare  ·  Distinctive  ·  Familiar  ·  Common  ·  Very Common

Popularity score: 0 = least popular, 100 = most popular. Based on SSA rank.

Namesake Score
40
Higher than 40% of names
Combines uniqueness, trend, meaning, feasibility, and search interest.
Trend
↓ Fading
-1607 ranks
Based on SSA rank velocity
Feasibility
Limited
.com taken · — · clear
Low friction, available
Uniqueness
55
Won't be common in class

Manaia scores lower overall — the popularity trend is fading.

Meaning Depth37% of score
60
Name Trend28% of score
32
Uniqueness20% of score
55
Feasibility15% of score
50

Scores are percentile-ranked across 43,000+ names.

Name DNA
PolynesianMāoriMythologicalUnisexNature3-syllableSpiritualRareGuardian
Character
spiritual guardianprotective wisdomcelestial messengerbridging worlds
STRONG
High confidence

Manaia is a Polynesian unisex name with cooling SSA momentum. It ranked #8735 in the US in 2024.

Trend:↓ Fading · -1607 ranks
Feasibility:.com taken · — · clear
Popularity:—
Manaia at a Glance
Meaning:A spiritual guardian or guide in Māori mythology; represents a protector between worlds, often depicted as a mythical creature combining human and animal forms.
Language root:Māori · Polynesian
Peak rank:#7128 in 2023
5yr change:-1607 ranks
Sex usage:Girl #8735 · Boy #—
Notable bearers

No notable bearers on record.

Similar Sound
MaliaMayaAnaiaKalani◈Moana
Similar Style
Ariana◈Kaia◈FreyaLenaKai◈
Works well with
Kai◈Lani◈Akira◈TaikaAriaHalo◈Remy◈Sage◈
You Might Also Like
Ariana◈
Celtic · #103
→ Stable
Kaia◈
Celtic · #180
→ Stable
Freya
Norse · #159
→ Stable
Lena
Greek · #263
→ Stable
Leilani
Polynesian · #66
→ Stable
Kailani
Polynesian · #275
↓ Declining
Source: Social Security Administration baby names data. Popularity data reflects US births. Feasibility data updated monthly.
Name Intelligence
Manaia · Overview
Summary

Manaia is a Polynesian unisex name with cooling SSA momentum. It ranked #8735 in the US in 2024.

Search interest: 0/100 → Stable

Strengths
Works for any sex
52% boy · 48% girl. A genuinely unisex name is rare at this level of distinctiveness.
Mythological · Nature character
Manaia carries a ethereal, grounded, bold quality that makes it distinctive without being invented.
Considerations
Popularity declining
Rank has dropped 1607 positions in the last year. Consider whether this trajectory matters for your decision.
Domain taken
manaia.com is not available. Alternative TLDs may work.
Explore

Add to watchlists or your list with + Save next to the name above.

Data source:Social Security Administration
Coverage:US births 1879–2024
Updated:January 2025
ISR:Refreshes monthly
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