Kaleo

♂ Boy

Pronounced kah-LEH-oh /kɑːˈleɪ.oʊ/High

Meaning: From Hawaiian ka (the) and leo (voice, sound); meaning the voice or the sound; used in Hawaii as both a masculine given name and as part of compound namesHigh

In 30 seconds: Kaleo is a Hawaiian name meaning the voice or the sound, composed of the definite article ka and leo (voice), and has gained wider recognition through the Icelandic-Hawaiian band Kaleo and as a distinctive, melodic boys name.

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Origin HighHawaiian

MeaningFrom Hawaiian ka (the) and leo (voice, sound); meaning the voice or the sound; used in Hawaii as both a masculine given name and as part of compound names

U.S. rank (2025)#898 ↗ Rising

2025 U.S. births265 boys (0.01% of U.S. boys)

Peak year2025

Total births (all-time)≈ 2,250

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

History & Origin

Kaleo comes from Hawaiian ka (the definite article) and leo (voice, sound, tune). The combination yields the voice or the sound — a name invoking the gift of speech, song, and expression. In Hawaiian culture the voice was deeply sacred, as oral tradition was the primary means of transmitting history, genealogy, and religious knowledge through generations of chant (mele) and storytelling. Kaleo appears in Hawaiian personal names and in compound forms like Kaleolani (the voice of heaven).

In the continental United States, Kaleo has been used as a given name by Hawaiian families and by those drawn to Hawaiian culture. The name received broader international exposure through the Icelandic rock band Kaleo — formed in Mosfellsbaer, Iceland — whose lead singer JJ Julius Son chose the Hawaiian name for the band, drawn to its meaning of the voice. The band's success with the 2017 album A/B introduced the name to audiences in the United States and Europe who might otherwise never have encountered it.

Did you know? Leo means voice in Hawaiian — so Leo here is completely unrelated to the Latin Leo meaning lion — a reminder that even familiar-looking name elements can mean entirely different things depending on whether their root is Latin or Polynesian.

Overall data confidence 92%

Hawaiian Dictionary (Pukui and Elbert) — ka and leo etymologyBehind the Name — Kaleo — usage overview

Variations

KaleolaniKaleokaleo

Nicknames

KaiLeo

Famous Bearers

Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Kaleo…

Kai— short Hawaiian and Polynesian name with the same ocean-culture and melodic island feel

Koa— Hawaiian boys name meaning brave or warrior with the same Hawaiian cultural grounding

Kaimana— Hawaiian name meaning power of the sea with the same Polynesian cultural roots

Makoa— Hawaiian boys name meaning fearless with comparable Hawaiian heritage

Frequently Asked

What does the name Kaleo mean?

Kaleo comes from Hawaiian ka (the) and leo (voice, sound), meaning the voice.

How do you pronounce Kaleo?

It is said kah-LEH-oh — three syllables, stress on the second.

Is Kaleo a Hawaiian name?

Yes, Kaleo is a genuine Hawaiian given name with Polynesian roots in the meaning of voice and sound.

What is the band Kaleo?

Kaleo is an Icelandic rock band whose singer chose the Hawaiian name for its meaning of the voice; they are known for songs including Way Down We Go.