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Home › Baby Names Directory › Tamatoa

Tamatoa

♂ Boy

Pronounced tah-mah-TOH-uh /tɑ.mɑˈtoʊ.ə/Medium

Meaning: A Polynesian name, generally read from tama ('child') and toa ('warrior; brave') — 'warrior child'. It is a chiefly name in Tahiti and the Cook Islands, and is widely known today as the giant crab in Disney's Moana, a route we note.Low

In 30 seconds: A Polynesian name: Tamatoa is read as 'warrior child' (said 'tah-mah-TOH-uh'). Also the crab in Moana — we note that.
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Origin MediumPolynesian
MeaningA Polynesian name, generally read from tama ('child') and toa ('warrior; brave') — 'warrior child'. It is a chiefly name in Tahiti and the Cook Islands, and is widely known today as the giant crab in Disney's Moana, a route we note.
U.S. rank (2024)#13959 ↘ Falling
2024 U.S. births5 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)
Peak year2013
Total births (all-time)≈ 46

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 201320112024

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

Tamatoa is a Polynesian name built from tama, 'child', and toa, 'warrior; brave' — borne by chiefs in Tahiti and the Cook Islands. Disney's Moana gave the name to a huge, treasure-hoarding crab, and that is where most English-speaking families now meet it; we note the pop-culture route plainly alongside the Polynesian one. Long, rolling, and grand (said 'tah-mah-TOH-uh').

It appears only rarely for boys in the U.S. Rare, Polynesian, and dramatic.

Did you know? Tamatoa joins tama, 'child', to toa, 'warrior' — and it is a chiefly name in Tahiti and the Cook Islands. Most American children will know it as the glittering crab in Moana, a route we note plainly (said 'tah-mah-TOH-uh').
Overall data confidence 48%
References — Tamatoa — Polynesian tama + toa; Tahitian/Cook Islands chiefly name; Moana character

Variations

Tamatoa

Nicknames

TamaToa

Famous Bearers

  • Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Tamatoa…

Koa— a Polynesian word for 'warrior'
Kai— a like Polynesian-Hawaiian name
Maui— a like Polynesian name known from the same film
Tane— a like Polynesian boys' name

Explore names like Tamatoa

By themepop-culturepolynesianwarriorlong

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Tamatoa mean?

Tamatoa is Polynesian, generally read from tama ('child') and toa ('warrior') — 'warrior child'. It is also the giant crab in Disney's Moana.

How do you pronounce Tamatoa?

It's said tah-mah-TOH-uh /tɑ.mɑˈtoʊ.ə/ — four syllables, stress on the third.

Is Tamatoa a boy or girl name?

Tamatoa is a boy's name.

How popular is Tamatoa?

Tamatoa is a rare name for boys in the U.S.

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