Mano

In its Hawaiian interpretation, “shark”, from manō.

Mano’s Hawaiian interpretation brings a striking marine image: manō means “shark”. The name is used for boys, and this association can give its four-letter form a bold, oceanic feel. The rounded o and the softer m and n keep the sound from feeling as sharp as the animal image might suggest. The spelling of the Hawaiian word matters. In manō, the line over ō marks a long vowel: /maˈnoː/, with two syllables and stress on the final one. An English reading of the name with stress on the first syllable is also found. If the shark meaning is central to your choice, the Hawaiian vowel length and final stress are worth keeping alongside that image.

Etymology: Mano is used as a given name and is linked to Hawaiian manō, the word for shark. This explains the Hawaiian interpretation of the name, rather than every use of the spelling.