Tui
A boy's name of Polynesian origin with 16 recorded U.S. births.
Meaning & Origin
At 3 letters and one syllable, Tui is short enough to fit easily on forms, monograms, and classroom labels — no abbreviation needed. It has been used as a boy's name in the U.S. since 2019, with 16 total recorded births.
Currently ranked #14033, Tui is familiar enough that people will recognize it but not so common that your child shares it with three classmates.
In the most recent SSA release, Tui ranks #14033 among U.S. boy names — distinctive enough to stand out.
Tui is a boy's baby name of Polynesian origin, from the Fijian and Tongan tui, meaning 'king, chief, lord.' In Fijian and Tongan tradition, the Tui was the paramount chief of a region or island — the highest human authority in the social hierarchy. Used as a given name, it carries centuries of Pacific Islander chiefly heritage.
Tui carries the Polynesian chief's authority — the paramount lord of the Pacific islands, whose word was law across the coral atolls and volcanic peaks of Fiji and Tonga, a name of Island royalty worn as a given name of enormous cultural weight.
EtymologyShow more
The ending of a name often carries more etymological information than the beginning. Tui's final sounds are open, approachable — ending on a vowel softens the overall impression. In English-language naming, masculine names frequently end on harder consonants or closed syllables, creating a sense of decisiveness and strength. Tui softens that pattern, giving it a more versatile feel.
Explore the ending-based name pages on this site to find names that share Tui's suffix pattern — names with similar endings often share a style and era, even when they come from different linguistic backgrounds.
At a Glance
Popularity Over Time
Tui has 3+ years of history in the U.S., first appearing in 2019.
Popularity by Decade
| Decade | Births | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 10 | ▲ |
| 2010s | 6 | — |
The Story of Tui
A Gen Alpha name
Peaking in 2019, Tui is a fresh, modern favorite. Boys named Tui are most likely born between 2019 and 2024.
How rare is Tui?
Only about 1 in every 720,000 babies born in 2024 was named Tui — a truly uncommon choice.
The journey through the decades
First appeared in the records in 2019, peaked in the 2020s with 10 births that decade.
Year-by-Year Data
View complete yearly data(3 years, 2019–2024)
| Year | Births | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 5 | #14033 |
| 2022 | 5 | #14147 |
| 2019 | 6 | #12021 |
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Tui a boy's or girl's name?
When was Tui most popular?
How popular is the name Tui?
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Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration, 2019–2024