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Home › Baby Names Directory › Pele

Pele

♀ Girl

Pronounced PEH-leh /ˈpɛ.lɛ/Medium

Meaning: From the Hawaiian Pele, 'lava; molten' (she who shapes the sacred land); the Hawaiian goddess of volcanoes, fire, and creation, who dwells in Kilauea; we note the goddessLow

In 30 seconds: Lava; molten: Pele is the Hawaiian goddess of volcanoes. Crisp, classic, and warm (said 'PEH-leh'). We note the goddess.
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Origin LowPolynesian, Hawaiian
MeaningFrom the Hawaiian Pele, 'lava; molten' (she who shapes the sacred land); the Hawaiian goddess of volcanoes, fire, and creation, who dwells in Kilauea; we note the goddess
U.S. rank (2019)#17388 ↘ Falling
2019 U.S. births5 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)
Peak year2011
Total births (all-time)≈ 52

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 201119732019

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

Pele comes from the Hawaiian Pele, 'lava; molten'; the Hawaiian goddess of volcanoes and fire (we note the goddess). A crisp, classic name (said 'PEH-leh').

In the U.S. it appears very rarely as a mythology name (also the footballer's nickname). Rare, lava at the root, and crisp.

Did you know? Pele is 'lava; molten' in Hawaiian — the goddess of volcanoes, fire, and creation, who dwells in Kilauea and shapes the sacred land — a crisp, storied name (we note the goddess; said 'PEH-leh').
Overall data confidence 48%
References — Pele — Polynesian mythology; goddess

Variations

Pelehonuamea

Nicknames

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Famous Bearers

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If you like Pele…

Namaka— her sister, the sea-goddess
Hina— a fellow Polynesian goddess
Kane— a companion Hawaiian deity
Maui— a kin Polynesian figure

Explore names like Pele

By thememythologygoddesspolynesian
By meaningGod / DivineFire

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Pele mean?

Pele is Hawaiian for 'lava; molten'; the goddess of volcanoes and fire. We note the goddess.

How do you pronounce Pele?

It's said PEH-leh /ˈpɛ.lɛ/ — two syllables, stress on the first.

Is Pele a boy or girl name?

Pele is a girl's name here (the Hawaiian goddess).

How popular is Pele?

Pele is a very rare name in the U.S.

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