Kamuela Name Meaning & Historical Trends

Kamuela

Pronunciation: kah-moo-EH-lah

Meaning God has heard Gender Boy
BOYS RANK
#12,960
TREND
1,355

Rank shows the name’s position among U.S. baby names for each gender in 2025. Trend shows how many places it rose or fell since 2024. Rank 1 is the most popular. Based on U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA) data. Peak and lowest years are based on the number of boys named Kamuela in the available records.

Fun Facts About the Name Kamuela

  • 298 babies named Kamuela: U.S. records list 298 babies given the name Kamuela from 1880 through 2025.

What Does the Name Kamuela Mean?

Kamuela is the Hawaiian form of Samuel, a name whose ultimate origin is Hebrew. It is commonly understood to mean "God has heard." The Hebrew name is Shemu'el, traditionally explained as a combination of shama, "to hear," and El, "God." Another explanation connects the first element with shem, "name," yielding "name of God." The exact derivation is uncertain, but the traditional meaning is the one usually given for Samuel and for its Hawaiian equivalent.

Kamuela has no separate Hawaiian etymology. It is a Hawaiian adaptation of the biblical name, not an independent Hawaiian word with its own root meaning. The form reflects Hawaiian sound patterns: the language lacks the s sound of Samuel, so the name was reshaped with k and with vowels that fit Hawaiian syllables.

Kamuela Name History & Origins

The name Samuel comes from the Hebrew Bible, where Samuel is a prophet and the name of two biblical books. The Hebrew Shemu'el passed into Greek as Samouēl and into Latin as Samuel, the form that entered English and other European languages.

In the 19th century, Christian missionaries in Hawaii established a written form of Hawaiian and translated the Bible. Biblical names were adapted to Hawaiian pronunciation and spelling, and Samuel became Kamuela. It appears in Hawaiian-language Bible usage and has been used as a personal name in Hawaii. The community of Waimea on the island of Hawaii is also known as Kamuela; the name is associated with Samuel Parker, an owner of the Parker Ranch there.

How Popular is the Name Kamuela?

Kamuela has historically been an exceptionally rare given name in the United States, remaining well outside the national mainstream. It saw its highest recorded annual births in 2007. Its best rank was #3,617 in 1988.

U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.

Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.

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How the Name Kamuela Shapes Your Personality and Life?

EXTREMES in fortune, health and spirituality. You are very versatile, idealistic and intuitive. You either enjoy great success or suffer abject misery. The solution is service to others. Use your leadership abilities for humanity and not for self-glorification. You are bold, independent, inquisitive and interested in research. You know what you want and why you want it.

You are always looking for a chance to do your own thing, to be your own person, and to have things done your own way.

✦ Kamuela's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Kamuela's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.
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