Top 240 Asian and Pacific Islander Boy Names and Their Meanings

Asian and Pacific Islander names are unique in that they’re often chosen for their distinct meanings. These names may sometimes connote “luck,” “wealth,” “happiness,” or an auspicious object or animal, such as jade or a dragon. It’s thought that certain Pacific Islander or Asian names can lead to a baby boy having good luck to last a lifetime or authority to rule like a king. And naming him after a Hindu god may grant him good karma. To help you in your baby-naming journey, we’ve compiled a list of the top Pacific Islander and Asian baby boys’ names including East Asian, Southeast Asian, Polynesian, and South Asian names.

Common and Popular Asian and Pacific Islander Boy Names

If you’d like to name your baby boy something popular, consider one of these common Asian or Pacific Islander male names. These monikers, mostly of Polynesian and Indian origin, were among the most common and popular Asian first names in America for boys in 2021: 1. Kai. This short one-syllable Asian boys’ name means “sea” in Hawaiian or "triumph, victory, music of triumph" in Chinese.

2. Malakai. This is the Fijian and Tongan form of Malachi, a biblical baby name of Hebrew origin meaning "my messenger" or "my angel."

3. Ayaan. This Indian boys’ name originally derives from the Sanskrit word ayana, which means “unmoving,” “natural disposition,” “path,” or “precession.” Choose this name if you’d like your son to carve his own path in life.

4. Koa. This short, cute Hawaiian boys’ name means “brave, bold, fearless, or warrior” or “koa tree.” The koa is a type of acacia tree that is native to Hawaii. It’s a very hard wood that has been used to make surfboards, furniture, carvings, and musical instruments like guitars and ukuleles. It’s a name infused with Hawaiian culture and history.

5. Arjun. This is the modern variant of the Indian name Arjuna, meaning “white, clear” in Sanskrit. The name derives from an ancient Hindu hero who is the son of the god Indra and the princess Kunti. The name is found in Hindi, Marathi, Kannada, Telugu, Tamil, Malayalam, Gujarati, Bengali, and Nepali languages.

6. Aarav. This Indian boys’ name means “peaceful melody” or “calm noise” in Sanskrit. You’ll probably be experiencing the extremes of both with a newborn in the house!

7. Vihaan. This Indian boys’ name derives from the Sanskrit word vihana, which means “dawn, morning”—a beautiful image of a new life.

8. Kenji. Depending on the kanji (the Japanese characters), this boys’ name can either mean “healthy, strong” or “study, sharpen” combined with “two.” It could be used for a second son.

9. Avyaan. This Sanskrit name means “beginning” and relates to Vishnu and Ganesha, two of Hinduism’s most well-known gods.

10. Ayan. This Bengali boys’ name is a variant of Ayaan above. Ayan means “road, path, or solar path” in Bengali.

Unique and Rare Asian and Pacific Islander Boy Names

If you’d like to choose a unique baby name, you’ll find a variety of options for your little boy in this list of Pacific Islander and Asian male names, some of which are rare and uncommon whereas others have unique meanings.

11. Hayato. This Japanese boys’ name means “falcon” and “person.” A unique meaning indeed. Your little boy will soar like a falcon!

12. Hye. This short and simple Korean boys’ name means “bright, intelligent.” It’s less commonly used as a single character name. A famous bearer of the name was the sixth-century king of Baekje (an ancient Korean kingdom).

13. Jagdish. This is the modern form of the unique Indian boys’ name Jagdisha, which means “ruler of the world” in Sanskrit. It refers to the Hindu god Vishnu. It’s used by speakers of Hindi, Marathi, and Gujarati.

14. Jiahao. The first part of this Chinese boys’ name jia means “home, family” and the second part hao means “brave, heroic, chivalrous.” What a unique meaning for the latest addition to your family.

15. Min. This Chinese and Korean boys’ name means “quick, clever, sharp.” It’s the perfect moniker for your witty boy!

16. Rahul. In Sanskrit, this Indian boys’ name means “able, efficient.” Although the meaning is rather straightforward, what makes the name unique is that it was the name of the Buddha’s son. The name is still used in Hindi, Marathi, Bengali, Assamese, Odia, Gujarati, Punjabi, Malayalam, Tamil, Kannada, and Telugu languages.

17. Ramprasad. This unique Asian boys’ name (used in India by speakers of Bengali, Hindi, and Marathi) means “the clearness of Rama,” the Hindu deity, combined with the Sanskrit word prasada meaning “clearness, brightness.” This name was famously borne by the eighteenth-century Bengali poet Ramprasad Sen.

18. Shi. This unique Chinese boys’ name has many possible meanings, including “time, era, season,” “real, honest,” “history,” or “stone.”

19. Shrivatsa. This unique Indian boys’ name means “beloved of Shri,” a Hindu goddess. The name is also used to describe the mark on the god Vishnu’s chest.

20. Yeong-Su. This Korean boys’ name is made up of the words yeong and su, which mean “perpetual, eternal” and “long life, lifespan” respectively. What a unique meaning and wish for your newborn boy!

More Unique and Rare Asian and Pacific Islander Boy Names

Keep the uniqueness going with even more to choose from. Any one of these rare Asian and Pacific Islander boy names with unique meanings may just capture your imagination!

Choosing a baby name can be exciting yet overwhelming. Watch this video for some interesting facts that could help you find the ideal name for your baby!

Cute Asian and Pacific Islander Boy Names

A cute baby deserves a name that’s just as cute—so here’s a list of cute Asian and Pacific Islander boys’ names with such cute meanings as “talented,” “colt,” “dragon,” “gem,” and more.

31. Ashwin. If you’re a lover of horses you may like this Indian boys’ name, which means “possessed of horses.” The name also refers to the Ashvin twins, who are the Hindu gods of the sunrise and sunset. You’ll find this name in the Hindi, Kannada, Marathi, Tamil, and Telugu languages.

32. Jing. This simple, cute, and short Chinese boys’ name has multiple meanings including “quiet, still, gentle,” “essence, spirit,” “clear, crystal,” or “capital city.” Choose the meaning you like the most!

33. Kamal. This is the male version of the Indian female name Kamala, which means “lotus” or “pale red” in Sanskrit. You may recognize the female name as that of Vice President Kamala Harris. If you’re looking for rhyming twin baby names, you might like to pair Kamal with Jamal.

34. Kishor. This cute Indian boys’ name of Sanskrit origin means “colt,” referring to a baby horse. The name is common in the Hindi, Marathi, Tamil, and Telugu languages. It may sometimes be spelled Kishore.

35. Navin. What could be cuter than giving your newborn son an Indian name of Sanskrit origin that means “new”? It’s used in Hindi, Marathi, Kannada, Telugu, Tamil, and Malayalam languages. The alternate spelling is Naveen.

36. Ryū. This short, cute Japanese boy’s name simply means “dragon.” Choose this name if you’d like to imbue your son with the power of a little dragon!

37. Suchart. This cute Asian boys’ name means "born into a good life" in Thai. We’re sure your little boy will be born into a good life!

38. Văn. This short and cute Vietnamese boys’ name means “literature, culture, writing”—the perfect meaning for a boy born to a literary family. This name is commonly used as a middle name for boys, so you might like to pair this name with another name on this list to create a special moniker for your son.

39. Ye-Jun. As a new parent, you want everyone to know your boy is talented and handsome. In that case, choose this Korean boys’ name; the word ye means “art, talent, craft,” and the word jun means “talented, handsome.”

40. Yu. This cute and short Chinese boys’ name has many lovely meetings such as “jade, precious stone, gem,” “pleasant, delightful,” or “rain.” Any of these meanings would work well for your cute little boy.

More Cute Asian and Pacific Islander Boy Names

Names with meanings like “youthful one,” “jewel,” and “wave” just couldn't be left out! So, to keep the list of cute Asian boys’ names going, here are more to choose from!

Beautiful and Charming Asian and Pacific Islander Boy Names

Here you’ll discover a number of charming and beautiful Asian or Pacific Islander boys’ names. Many of the following options sound beautiful and have charming meanings that tug at your heartstrings.

51. Arun. You’ll find this Asian boys’ name in many Southeast Asian languages including Hindi, Marathi, Bengali, Telugu, Tamil, Malayalam, Gujarati, Punjabi, and Thai. Of Sanskrit origin, it means “reddish brown, dawn” and refers to the Hindu god Aruna, who chariots the sun god Surya across the sky.

52. Dinesh. Sanskrit in origin, this beautiful Indian boys’ name means “day lord” and also appears as the name of the sun in ancient Hindu texts. It’s used in various Southeast Asian languages including Hindi, Marathi, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada, Gujarati, Bengali, Punjabi, Nepali, and Sinhalese.

53. Fumihito. In Japanese this boys’ name is made up of the words fumi and hito, which mean “writing” and “compassionate.” A famous bearer of the name is the Japanese crown prince. Choose this beautiful boy’s name for your own prince.

54. Isagani. In Tagalog, this Filipino boys’ name means “bountiful harvest.” This is the name of a character in the novel El Filibusterismo (The Reign of Greed) written by Philippine national hero José Rizal.

55. Jong-Su. This Korean boys’ name means “lineage, ancestry” combined with “luxuriant, beautiful, elegant, outstanding.” What a beautiful meaning for your baby boy, an asset to your family’s lineage.

56. Kazuo. In Japanese this beautiful Asian boys’ name means “one” or “harmony, peace” combined with “male, man, husband.” It’s famously the name of the Japanese-born English author Kazuo Ishiguro.

57. Mahendra. This Indian boys’ name comes from the Sanskrit word maha, which means “great,” and combines it with the name of the Hindu god Indra. The most well-known Mahendra was a third-century BCE Indian emperor who introduced Buddhism to Sri Lanka. The name is common in the Hindi, Marathi, and Gujarati languages.

58. Sonam. This Asian boys’ name has the beautiful meaning of “virtuous, good karma, fortunate.” It’s used in Tibet, Bhutan, and Hindi- and Marathi-speaking areas of India.

59. Sunil. This Indian boys’ name combines two meanings, using the Sanskrit words su and nila to create the meaning “very dark blue.” What a beautiful color! The boys’ name is used in Hindi, Marathi, Bengali, Assamese, Gujarati, Punjabi, Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, Malayalam, and Nepali languages.

60. Yijun. This Chinese boys’ name combines the meaning of “joy, harmony” with “king, ruler.” So, you could easily conclude that your little boy will rule your life joyously, be your king of harmony, or whichever combination you prefer!

Related Articles

Top Baby Names for Boys

More Beautiful and Charming Asian and Pacific Islander Boy Names

Haven’t had enough beautiful and charming Asian and Pacific Islander boys’ names? Here are some more to help you find the perfect moniker for your boy.

Powerful Asian and Pacific Islander Boy Names

If you want a name that confers might and power, choose one of these Pacific Islander or Asian boys’ names, which evoke vigor and strength.

71. Bai. In Chinese, this gender-neutral Asian name means “white, pure” for girls but “cypress tree, cedar” for boys. It was the name of eighth-century Tang dynasty poet Li Bai. Choose this name if you’d like a name with a powerful and intellectual connotation.

72. Bambang. In Javanese, this Asian boys’ name means “knight.” It may be the perfect name if you’re looking for something that conjures military might.

73. Bandith. In Lao, this boys’ name means “intelligent, learned, philosopher, sage.” What an affirmative name for your wise little man.

74. Fen. For boys and men, this gender-neutral Asian name means “strive, exert” in Chinese, but if it’s used for girls, it means “fragrance, aroma, perfume.”

75. Keahi. This Polynesian boys’ name means “the fire” in Hawaiian. It’s the perfect meaning for your little fiery boy!

76. Siha. What could be more powerful than the king of the jungle? This Lao name means “lion.”

77. Somcahi. This Thai boys’ name means either “worthy man” or “worthy victory.” Your son would be worthy of either meaning!

78. Tenzin. If you would like a Southeast Asian boys’ name that has power in a spiritual sense, you may like this name, which means “upholder of teachings” in Bhutanese and Tibetan. It’s famously the given name of the Dalai Lama.

79. Tshering. This Tibetan and Bhutanese boy’s name means “long life” in Tibetan. We all wish our children long and prosperous lives.

80. Wei. In Chinese, this Asian boys’ name means “power, pomp,” “high, lofty, towering,” or “great, robust, extraordinary”—all very powerful meanings for a boy.

More Powerful Asian and Pacific Islander Boy Names

There’s no shortage of powerful Pacific Islander and Asian boys’ names for you to pick from, so we’ve included some more to pique your interest.

Cool Asian and Pacific Islander Boy Names

Looking for a Pacific Islander or Asian boys’ name to set your little guy apart from the pack? The following Asian boys’ names sound cool, and many of them have cool and appealing meanings.

91. He. This Chinese boys’ name means “river, stream” or “harmony peace.” It was famously the name of the fifteenth-century explorer Zheng He. This could be just the perfect name for your little explorer.

92. Heremoana. This Tahitian boys’ name means “loved, dear” and “ocean” from the words here and moana. It would be a cool choice for a family of ocean and sea lovers.

93. Huy. This short Vietnamese boy’s name simply means “brightness.” It may in fact be the feeling you’ll experience after your baby boy is born!

94. Keanu. You may not find a name cooler than Keanu, which means “the cool breeze” in Hawaiian. Canadian actor Keanu Reeves is a famous bearer of the name and for good reason, since he oozes the cool factor.

95. Kidlat. This Filipino name means “lightning” in Tagalog. Choose this name if you like the idea of nature-inspired baby names, and, if you happen to be looking for twin Pacific Islander or Asian baby names, pair it with the Indonesian name Guntur (in the table below) meaning “thunder.”

96. Lin. This Chinese boys’ name can mean either “forest” or “fine jade, gem” depending on the Chinese characters used. Both are cool meanings for your son.

97. Ping. This short and cool Asian boys’ name means “level, even, peaceful” in Chinese. If you have a peaceful baby boy on your hands, you might like this name.

98. Qui. This cool Asian boy’s name means “autumn” or “hill, mound” in Chinese. It was the given name of Chinese philosopher Confucius. You may like this name for your cool little student of philosophy!

99. Santisouk. As a parent, you wish peace, happiness, and good fortune for your child, and this Lao boys’ name means just those things.

100. Shahrukh. This is the Urdu and Hindi form of a Persian name that means “royal face.” A well-known bearer of this name is the actor Shah Rukh Khan, who’s considered one of the coolest actors in India.

More Cool Asian and Pacific Islander Boy Names

The coolness continues with our ever-growing list of cool Pacific Islander and Asian boys’ names with memorable meanings.

Asian and Pacific Islander Boy Names With Specific Meanings

If you’re searching for a Pacific Islander or Asian boys’ name that has a specific meaning, like “strong,” “leader,” or “warrior,” then have a look at the following for even more naming options.

Asian and Pacific Islander Boy Names Meaning “Handsome,” “Good-Looking,” and “Excellent”

Asian and Pacific Islander Boy Names Meaning “Luck,” “Lucky,” and “Auspicious”

Asian and Pacific Islander Boy Names Meaning “Strong,” “Strength,” and “Mighty”

Asian and Pacific Islander Boy Names Meaning “Abundant,” “Wealthy,” and “Prosperous”

Asian and Pacific Islander Boy Names Meaning “Warrior” and “Hero”

Asian and Pacific Islander Boy Names Meaning “Sun,” “Bright,” and “Light”

Asian and Pacific Islander Boy Names Meaning “Chief,” “Leader,” and “Ruler”

Asian and Pacific Islander Boy Names Meaning “Joy” and “Happiness”

60 More Asian and Pacific Islander Names for Boys and Men

The possibilities for Pacific Islander and Asian male names are nearly endless, so here are additional options for even more inspiration!

The Bottom Line

Choosing your baby boy’s name according to its meaning is a great route to take, and with these Pacific Islander and Asian names, there’s no lack of variety. Whether you’d like a straightforward meaning such as “brave,” “lucky,” or “strong,” or something grander like “lord of the full moon,” we’ve got it all! We hope you’ll find just the right unique, cute, cool, common, or powerful Asian or Pacific Islander boys’ names on this enormous list! We hope we’ve inspired you as you embark on your baby-naming adventure! As you consider your many options, don’t forget to stock up on important baby essentials. And with the Pampers Rewards app, you get rewarded for all your future diaper and wipes purchases.