question for Native Hawaiians about my Hawaiian name (school, live)

[ecstaticdj]

Okay, so I was born in 1974 in California to somewhat hippie parents, who named me Maile. All I've been told is that they had friends with a son named Maile, liked the name, and so named me Maile. We later lived on the Big Island for some time and I spent a lot of my summers on the islands growing up, so there is a bit of a Hawaiian connection, but I've lived most of my life in California.

When I was around 8 or 9 years old I decided Maile sounded too much like a girls name and I wanted a boys name ... and so started going by Michael and have gone by Michael/Mike since then.

Well, turns out Maile is a girls name. At least, all the other people I've found online with that name are girls. However, it's also a pretty cool and unique name. Some of my friends have started calling me Maile and I kind of like it.

Here's my question(s): if I come to Hawaii going by the name Maile, are people going to look at me funny? I'm obviously not native Hawaiian, nor am I a girl. Is this name just gonna cause me grief on the islands?

[OpenD]

Maile (pron mah ih lay, or more commonly my lay) is a fragrant vine, used for making leis for royalty. Yes, in the 70s it was a popular hippie name for girls. So I think you're kind of in the "Boy Named Sue" situation.

My thought is that if you like it you should use it. And if people don't like it... well... you do know the song, don't you?

[hotzcatz]

I have a nice rabbit by that name, although she's a girl rabbit so I can't help you out with any gender issues. Generally around here Maile is a girl's name. Very similar to Malia.

Are you moving to Hawaii or planning on visiting?

[whtviper1]

Is there no way to change it slightly to a more male like name and keep it similar? I just picture this being a potentially a real bad situaition with a female name and annoucing it to everyone......

[isaackko]

haha, people gonna think you're mahu, lol

My middle name is Kanoe, which is also a girl name, haha.... I used to be so embarrassed on the first day of school.

[Koale]

Originally Posted by ecstaticdj

Okay, so I was born in 1974 in California to somewhat hippie parents, who named me Maile. All I've been told is that they had friends with a son named Maile, liked the name, and so named me Maile. We later lived on the Big Island for some time and I spent a lot of my summers on the islands growing up, so there is a bit of a Hawaiian connection, but I've lived most of my life in California.

When I was around 8 or 9 years old I decided Maile sounded too much like a girls name and I wanted a boys name ... and so started going by Michael and have gone by Michael/Mike since then.

Well, turns out Maile is a girls name. At least, all the other people I've found online with that name are girls. However, it's also a pretty cool and unique name. Some of my friends have started calling me Maile and I kind of like it.

Here's my question(s): if I come to Hawaii going by the name Maile, are people going to look at me funny? I'm obviously not native Hawaiian, nor am I a girl. Is this name just gonna cause me grief on the islands?

My friend...your name is perfect...embrace it.
Koale

[CyberCity]

RE:"question for Native Hawaiians about my Hawaiian name"


Just wondering, why are you limiting the responses to only "Native Hawaiians"?

[HiloDiver]

Another member of this forum has a pretty girl dog named Maile.

You'll have to make your own decision on that one. How many guys are named Chris, Sandy, or Pat?

[Jonah K]

Originally Posted by whtviper1

Is there no way to change it slightly to a more male like name and keep it similar? I just picture this being a potentially a real bad situaition with a female name and annoucing it to everyone......

Yes, one could start by adding the definite article marker "ka" and make it "Kamaile" (the maile). Next, an adjective can be added to it. For instance, "Kamailemōʻiuʻiu" ("the exalted maile"), "Kamailehoʻolua" ("the strong maile"), etc.

[ecstaticdj]

Originally Posted by CyberCity

RE:"question for Native Hawaiians about my Hawaiian name"


Just wondering, why are you limiting the responses to only "Native Hawaiians"?

Well, I figured native Hawaiians might have a better sense of whether a male "haole" with a Hawaiian girls name would be the source of derision. But in truth I'm interested in hearing from anyone with an understanding of Hawaiian culture, whether native or not, so perhaps I should have worded the title differently.