Hawi

♀ Girl

Pronounced HAH-wee /ˈhɑː.wi/Medium

Meaning: An Oromo name from Ethiopia, generally glossed as 'the one who comes first' or 'beloved, dear one.' Oromo is one of the most widely spoken languages of the Horn of Africa, and Hawi is a familiar girls' name in Oromia.Low

In 30 seconds: An Ethiopian name: Hawi is Oromo for 'the one who comes first' or 'beloved' (said 'HAH-wee').

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Origin MediumOromo

MeaningAn Oromo name from Ethiopia, generally glossed as 'the one who comes first' or 'beloved, dear one.' Oromo is one of the most widely spoken languages of the Horn of Africa, and Hawi is a familiar girls' name in Oromia.

U.S. rank (2022)#14200 ↘ Falling

2022 U.S. births6 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)

Peak year2014

Total births (all-time)≈ 76

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

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

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Hawi is an Oromo girls' name from Ethiopia. Oromo is spoken by many millions of people across Oromia and the wider Horn of Africa, and its naming tradition draws on everyday words and qualities. Hawi is usually glossed as 'the one who comes first' or as 'beloved, dear one'; as with many names from oral traditions, published glosses vary, and we give the commonest honestly. It reads as a warm, short two-beat name (said 'HAH-wee').

In the U.S. it appears only in very small numbers. Rare here, familiar in Ethiopia.

Did you know? Hawi comes from Oromo, one of the most widely spoken languages of the Horn of Africa, and is usually glossed as 'the one who comes first' or simply 'beloved.'

Overall data confidence 50%

References - Hawi — Oromo (Ethiopia) girls' name; glossed 'first one; beloved'

Variations

HawiiHawieHawi

Nicknames

HawaWiwi

Famous Bearers

Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Hawi…

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Zara— a like short two-beat pick

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Hawi mean?

Hawi is an Oromo girls' name from Ethiopia, glossed as 'the one who comes first' or 'beloved'; glosses vary.

How do you pronounce Hawi?

It's said HAH-wee /ˈhɑː.wi/ - two syllables, stress on the first.

Is Hawi a boy or girl name?

Hawi is used as a girl's name.

How popular is Hawi?

Hawi is extremely rare in the U.S.