Tiki

Tiki refers to the first human in Polynesian mythology, the god who carved the first people from wood or stone depending on the tradition. The word also refers to the carved wooden or stone statues representing Polynesian deities — tiki — which became icons of mid-century Americana through the tiki bar culture of the 1950s and 1960s.

Tiki carries a cheerful tropical energy that belongs to beach bars, summer evenings, and a particular strain of joyful American kitsch that has earned genuine affection. For a pet it suggests warmth, a hint of the exotic, and a personality that is fun to be around. The Polynesian mythological roots give it more depth than its pop-culture surface suggests — Tiki was literally the first person, which is a rather grand heritage for a pet name. It works well for any animal with an outgoing, sun-loving personality, and particularly well for pets adopted on vacation or in warm-weather climates.