Samoa, formerly known as Western Samoa, is a Unitary Parliamentary Republic with eleven administrative divisions. Samoa is in the South Pacific Ocean about 2,200 mi (3,540 km) south of Hawaii. The two main islands are Savai’i and Upolu with four smaller islands surrounding the landmasses.
Polynesians, possibly from Tonga, first settled in the Samoan islands about 1000 B.C. Samoa was explored by Dutch and French traders in the 18th century. Toward the end of the 19th century, conflicting interests of the U.S., Britain, and Germany resulted in an 1899 treaty that recognized the paramount interests of the U.S. in those islands west of 171°W (American Samoa) and Germany’s interests in the other islands (Western Samoa). New Zealand seized Western Samoa from Germany in 1914, and in 1946 it became a UN trust territory administered by New Zealand.
A referendum in 1990 gave women the right to vote for the first time. In 1997, a new constitutional amendment changed the country’s name to Samoa.
Economy:
Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in purchasing power parity (PPP) in 2006 was estimated at $1.218 billion USD. The industrial sector is the largest component of GDP at 58.4%, followed by the services sector at 30.2% (2004 est.). Agriculture represents only 11.4% of GDP (2004 est.). Samoan labour force is estimated at 90,000. (Source: wikipedia)
Ethnic Groups:
92.6% of the population are Samoans, 7% Euronesians (people of mixed European and Polynesian ancestry) and 0.4% are Europeans, per the CIA World Factbook. Only the Māori of New Zealand outnumber Samoans among Polynesian groups. (Source: wikipedia)
Languages:
Samoan and English are official languages. Samoan Sign Language is used by at least some of the deaf population.
Religion:
Samoans’ religious adherence includes the following: Christian Congregational Church of Samoa 31.8%, Roman Catholic 19.4%, Methodist 15.2%, Assembly of God 13.7%, Mormon 7.6%, Seventh-day Adventist 3.9%, Worship Centre 1.7%, other Christian 5.5%, other 0.7%, none 0.1%, unspecified 0.1% (2011 estimate).
Below is a list of Samoan names of boys and girls with their meaning from Samoan origin. If you still haven’t found the perfect and beautiful baby name for you new born baby, explore Polynesian, Hawaiian baby names, Maori baby names from origins New Zealand, Latin, Greek, and French.
Name | Gender | Meaning |
Fetu | Male | God of the night; star |
Fetuao | Male | Star |
Iosefa | Male | The Samoan version of Joseph |
Lagi | Male | Heaven |
Lelei | Male | Good |
Loto | Male | Heart |
Manuia | Male | Happy |
Maru | Male | Moriori god of healing |
Ne’igalomeatiga | Male | Unforgettable pain |
Puleleiite | Male | Ruler who can tell the future |
Rangi | Male | Sky; god of the sky |
Sefa | Male | The Samoan version of Joseph |
Tamati | Male | Twin |
Tane | Male | Man; god of the forests |
Arihi | Female | Noble kind |
Asoese | Female | Different day |
Ele’ele | Female | Land; first woman |
Emere | Female | Rival |
Fetuilelagi | Female | Star in the sky |
Huihana | Female | Lily; lotus |
La | Female | Sun |
Lalago | Female | Chief’s pillow; prophet’s staff |
Lelei | Female | Good |
Masina | Female | Moon |
Moana | Female | The sea |
Penina | Female | Pearl |
Pogisa | Female | Dark |
Rongomaiwhenua | Female | Earth mother |
Sinasamoa | Female | White sands of Samoa |
Solosolo | Female | Dry |
T’ali’au | Female | My answer |
Tagioalisi | Female | Call of cicadas |
Teuila | Female | Flower of the Samoan ginger plant |
Tifaimoana | Female | Treasure from the ocean |
Vailea | Female | Water that speaks |
Wiki | Female | Victorious |
Aveolela | Female | Rays of the sun |