Native names of Oceanic Islands 1900

Spread across approximately 10,000 islands, the history of Oceania is stained with the lingering shadows of colonial legacies that date back to the 16th century. A proud tapestry of indigenous histories, resilient against European colonization, is woven into the very names of these islands. Remarkably, many of these lands, having shrugged off their colonial shackles upon gaining independence, stand as testaments to their cultural heritage. Each Pacific island once possessed its unique indigenous identity, a legacy obscured and often forgotten under the weight of European-imposed names.

At first glance, the demarcation between entities bearing European names and those preserving their native identities appears evident. Nations like Australia, New Zealand, New Caledonia, Cook Islands, Solomon Islands, Marshall Islands, French Polynesia, Northern Mariana Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, and Pitcairn Island proudly wear their colonial monikers. Despite possessing indigenous names, the world recognizes them primarily by their official European designations. Conversely, countries such as Nauru, Vanuatu, Tonga, Fiji, Tuvalu, Kiribati, Samoa, Guam, Niue, Wallis & Futuna, the US state of Hawaiian Islands, and the amalgamation of colonial and native names in Papua New Guinea, retain their original nomenclature.

However, a closer inspection reveals that even within these nations, the vestiges of colonial history persist in the names of their sub-entities. While some larger island groups underwent multiple renamings, numerous smaller entities clung steadfastly to their native identities. Take, for instance, the nine provinces of the Solomon Islands—Central, Choiseul, Guadalcanal, Isabel, Makira-Ulawa, Malaita, Rennell & Bellona, Temotu, and Western. Similarly, the Kiribati Islands, subdivided into Banaba, Tarawa, Gilbert Islands (Northern, Central, and Southern), Phoenix, and Line Islands, retained their colonial-era names as subdivisions.

In 2019, the Cook Islands contemplated a name change to better reflect their true Polynesian culture. Although individually consisting of islands like Pukapuka, Suwarrow, Rakahanga, Penrhyn, Palmerston, Aitutaki, Manuai, Mitiero, Mauki, Rarotonga, Mangaia, Takutea, and Aitu, collectively, they were formerly known as the Hervey Islands until 1901, when they adopted the name Cook Islands. Interestingly, the local Maori name, Kuki 'Airani, serves as the native translation of Cook Islands.

Yet, some nations, such as Tuvalu and Tonga, successfully shed their colonial names. Tuvalu, once known as the Ellice or Lagoon Islands, now comprises subdivisions like Nanomea (St. Augustine), Nanomana (Hudson), Niutao (Lynx or Speiden), Nui (Egg or Netherland), Nukufetau (De Peyster), Oaitupu (Tracy), Nukulailai (Mitchell), and Nurakita (Sophia). Tonga, formerly the Friendly Islands during the colonial era, retained its non-Polynesian name but abandoned its colonial designation. Its administrative divisions—Tongatapu, Vava'u, Ha'apai, 'Eua, Ongo Niua—even have capitals with names like Nuku'alofa (also the capital of Tonga), Neiafu, Pangai, 'Ohonua, and Hihifo. Similarly, the Fiji Islands (formerly, the Kingdom of Viti) have preserved their native heritage in the names of their provinces, including Ba, Bua, Kadavu, Lau, Lomaiviti, Macuata, Nadroga-Navosa, Naitasiri, Namosi, Ra, Rewa, Serua, Tailevu, and a slightly European-influenced name in Cakaudrove.

Contrastingly, the Hawaiian Islands, the 50th state of the US, proudly preserved their original names—Hawai'i, Maui, O'ahu, Kaua'i, Moloka'i, Lāna'i, Ni'ihau, Kaho'olawe, and numerous minor islands such as Ka'ula, Lehua, Mokolo'i, Moku Ola, etc. Even the atolls and reefs maintain their native names, such as Kauō (Laysan), Holoikauaua (Pearl and Hermes Atoll), Pihemanu (Midway Atoll), Kānemilohha'i (French Frigate Shoals), despite their official designations continuing with non-native names.

Oceania's islands, once colonized by Europeans, Americans, and Japanese, bear the imprints of Spain's early 17th-century foray into the Islas de los Ladrones (Mariana Islands and Caroline Islands). The 19th century saw the British focusing on Australia and New Zealand, while the French expanded to Nouvelle-Calédonie, Tahiti, Porapora, Tuamotu, and other smaller islands. Pitcairn Island marked the initial British establishment among smaller Oceanic islands, while the US began establishing bases at various locations. Meanwhile, the Japanese Empire, in the late 1800s, renamed conquered territories such as Guam, Wake, Kiribati, and the South Seas Mandate.

The Line Islands, originally spotted by the Spanish as Buen Viaje, were divided between American and British territories. As the 19th century waned, the Netherlands, Germany, and Japan staked claims to various islands. Amidst the territorial struggles, Tonga, Niue, Rarotonga, Rakahanga, Humphrey's Island (Manihiki), and other smaller islands clung to virtual independence. Remarkably, Rapa Nui or Easter Island stood as the private property of English-Jewish-Tahitian plantation owner Alexander Ari'ipaea Vehiaitipare Salmon Jr.

With the dawn of the 20th century, Oceania fell under the sway of three superpowers—Britain, France, and the Japanese Empire. Japan, in particular, renamed almost all conquered territories, leaving behind a legacy of Omiya (Guam), Otori (Wake), Kiribasu (Kiribati), and Nan'yō guntō (South Seas Mandate). Today, while most Oceanian islands stand independent, territories of Australia, New Zealand, France, Britain, the US, and Japan persist. Some islands remain too small or uninhabited to assert separate identities.

The map of Oceania presented below reflects a meticulous restoration of native names to these islands, offering a poignant glimpse into a history marred by colonization yet resiliently anchored in indigenous identities.

Pule 'Anga Fakatui'i'o Tonga: The Kingdom of Tonga

Today, Oceania is almost independent of any foreign possessions and its one continent where dependencies dragged until the 20th century. At present, apart from the 15 independent sovereign states (members of the UN), there are two non-UN member states and 28 non-sovereign territories. These territories are claimed by nations such as the United States, New Zealand, Australia, France, Chile and Ecuador. But if we talk only about the independent states, most of these have republican democracy or a federation. But one such territory that has retained its monarch for several centuries, is the Kingdom of Tonga. 

Centred on the island of Tongatapu, the Kingdom of Tonga had its influence in territories of Fiji, Samoa, Wallis and Futuna islands, apart from Tonga itself. The Tongan Empire or Pule 'Anga Fakatui'i'o Tonga came into existence in 950 AD, at a time when the majority of Oceanian territories were uninhabited. By the thirteenth century, the Tongan empire was the largest conglomeration of chiefdoms in the Pacific, followed by the Hawaiians. In the 14th century, the Tu'i Tonga line united the Tonga islands under a centralised authority, powered at its capital Mu'a. It was at this time that complex societies started developing in these islands that would last till the time of European arrival in the 17th century. 

The earliest Europeans arriving at these islands were the Dutch in 1616 when the islands were discovered by Captain Willem Schouten and Jacob Le Maire. In 1643, the famous Abel Tasman spotted the islands and christened them as Amsterdam (Tongatapu), Middleburg (Euva) and Rotterdam (Nomuka). In 1773, the English renamed the entire set of islands as 'Friendly Islands'; a name that was retained till the 20th century. Between 1900 to 1952, Tonga was part of the British Western Pacific Territories, a group consisting of islands such as Fiji, New Hebrides (Vanuatu), Cook Islands, Niue, Gilbert & Ellice Islands (Tuvalu and Kiribati respectively), the Solomon Islands etc. In the year 1970, Tonga ceased to be a British protectorate and gained independence. 

The Tongan Empire is interesting as, during the 19th century when the entire Oceanian belt (along with Australia and New Zealand) was wrestling under colonialism, the Tongans retained their absolute monarchy and were surrounded by British and French possessions. Tonga was also untouched by the rising Japanese during the Second World War and was part of the British protectorate although the Tongan lineage never voluntarily gave up to any European power. This fact gives Tonga a unique identity that being part of such a complicated colonist jigsaw, the kingdom never really submitted to colonialism. What makes Tonga even more interesting is the fact that it still retains a monarchy (constitutional), making it the only country in entire Oceania to have such a government.  

Tonga qualifies as an executive constitutional monarchy, making it one of the seven sovereign states in the world, others being Bhutan, Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Liechtenstein, Monaco and Morocco. The Tongan way of life (Anga Fakatonga) is fabricated as a class-basis society, where there is a demarcation between the upper and lower classes. There has to be a decorum maintained among the lower classes while interacting with those of the upper class, something similar to the neighbouring Asian cultures. Another common trait among the Asians and Polynesians, that is well-reflected among the Tongans, is the clear differentiation among the genders. And similar to the Asians, the original native culture is given more importance than the mixed with European influence, also known as Anga Fakapālangi. But unlike most Asian family systems that are generally patriarchal, the Tongans follow matriarchy. 

The following is a recreation of an 1827 dated Belgian map of the Tongan Empire and a comparison is made with its current political boundaries. Interestingly, the Tongans (and this includes other Polynesians, Melanesians and Micronesians) have retained native names of their islands and settlements, and very little has been affected by European christening. The original creator of the map was Philippe Vandermaelen (1795-1869). One can see the resemblance being the same, with little change in pronunciation by the Europeans. 

East Indies and Australia - 1652

The first Dutch arrival to East Indies occurred on the 5th of June 1596, just at the time when various East India Companies were being formed. In 1602, the Vereenigde Oost-Indische Compagnie (VOC) or the Dutch East India Company was formed. At this time, the local empires of East Indies were the Aceh Sultanate (or the Kingdom of Aceh Darussalam) on the Sumatra island that existed till 1903, the Sultanate of Ternate that covered islands of the Philippines and the Moluccas island group of Indonesia (and existed till 1914), the Banjar Sultanate on Borneo existing till 1860 and the Sultanate of Tidore, again in the Moluccas island group that existed till 1967. Among all these Islamic Sultanates, there were the Dutch, the Portuguese and even the British and the French for a brief amount of time. 

While on one hand the East Indies were flourishing with empires and was at the brink of colonisation, the island of Australia was largely untouched by the Europeans. In fact, the only empires or kingdoms in the entire Oceanian belt were the Fijian Confederacies (made up of Burebasaga, Kubuna, Niumataiwalu and Tovata chiefdoms), the Tonga Empire (or the Tu'i Tonga Empire; existing till 1805) and the Samoan clans on the Samoa Islands. Even much before the christening of New Holland (which came much later in the 19th century), the western and northern coast of the country was explored by Europeans. In the early 17th century, the term Eendrachtsland or Eendraghtsland was given to the explored coastline of Australia after it was discovered by the Dutch ship Eendracht. 

Since the East Indies was already civilised and were in a conflict between the Asian and European powers, the exploration to every island was possible and old maps could find names of almost every part of the East Indies. Most of their nomenclature such as Sumatra (written as Svmatra), Borneo, Java (written as Iava) etc. are still valid. But here's a closer look at the smaller islands and their naming by Europeans in the early 17th century. The following is the division of East Indies islands spread across today's Indonesia, East Timor, Malaysia, Brunei, Singapore and the Philippines. 

Indonesia

• Svmatra (Sumatra island)
• Iava (Java island)
• Banca (Bangka island)
• Engano (Enggano island, Lampung province)
• Revich (Pagai-Selatan island, Mentawai Islands, West Sumatra province)
• Nabau (Pagai-Utara island, Mentawai Islands, West Sumatra province)
• Goe Fortuyns (Sipura island, Mentawai Islands, West Sumatra province)
• Pulo Mintuon (Siberut island, Mentawai Islands, West Sumatra province)
• Pulo Nyas (Nias island, North Sumatra province)
• Pulo de Achem (Breueh island, Aceh province)
• Pulo Way (Weh island, Aceh province)
• Poluirea (Rupat island, Bengkalis Regency, Riau province)
• Bintam (Bintan island, Riau Islands)
• Billiton (Belitung island, Bangka-Belitung Islands)
• Linga (Lingga island, Lingga Regency, Riau Islands)
• Bintang (Anambas island, Anambas Regency, Riau Islands)
• Dalus (Siantan island, Anambas Regency, Riau Islands)
• Celebes (Sulawesi island)
• Iauboc (Bawean island, Greater Sunda Islands, East Java, Indonesia)
• Madura island
• Bally (Bali island)
• Banditen (Nusa Penida island, Lesser Sunda Islands, Bali)
• Lomboc (Lombok island, Lesser Sunda Islands, West Nusa Tenggara province)
• Cumbaya (Sumbawa island, Lesser Sunda Islands, West Nusa Tenggara province)
• Flores 
• Sandelbosch (Sumba island, Lesser Sunda Islands, East Nusa Tenggara province)
• Saeuyo (Sawu island,  Lesser Sunda Islands, East Nusa Tenggara province)
• Rotthe (Rote island, East Nusa Tenggara province)
• Solor (Pulau Lembata island, Lembata Regency, East Nusa Tenggara)
• Ombo (Wetar island, Barat Daya Islands, Maluku province)
• Timor Liaut (Kobroor island, Aru Islands, Maluku province)
• Ceram (Seram island)
• Koy (Kai Besar island, Kai Islands, Maluku province)
• Bouru (Buru island, Maluku province)
• St. Matheus (Wakatobi island, Southeast Sulawesi province)
• Ouby (Peleng island, Central Sulawesi province)
• Pangay (Banggai island, Central Sulawesi province)
• Xulla (Taliabu island, North Maluku province)
• Xulla Bessy (Sulabes or Sanana island, North Maluku province)
• Sapelalla (Mangoli island, North Maluku province)
• Gilolo (Halmahera island, North Maluku province)
• Moluccæ (Maluku islands or Moluccas province)
• Amboina (Ambon island, Maluku province)
• Banda (Banda Islands)

Indonesia / Timor-Leste

• Timor (divided into Timor region of East Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia and the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste)

Malaysia 

• I. de S. Maria (Balambangan island, Kudat Division, Sabah)
• Malacca (Malaya peninsula)

Indonesia / Malaysia / Brunei

• Borneo

Philippines

• I. de S. Micheal (Tawi-Tawi island, Bangsamoro)
• Paragoa (Palawan island)
• Mindanao
• I. S. Juan (Caraga, Mindanao)
• Loyta (Bohol island)
• Negros
• Panay
• Sebu (Cebu island)
• Tandaia (Leyte island)

Indonesia

The Dutch East India Company held territories in East Indies till 1801, after which the VOC was dissolved and the Dutch government took over the administration, although the entire 19th century witnessed conflicts between the Dutch and the English over territorial expansions. It's interesting to note that it was the Dutch trading monopoly that had lured the English to open a trading company in the early 1600s, that lead to their India's expedition. An interesting trivia behind the formation of the East India Company, that while it was being formed by English merchants and traders in London, just behind their office William Shakespeare was writing the epic, Hamlet. 

Talking about naming the islands, the Europeans used the term 'Indonesia' which's still the official name of the country. But as many others have, a local name called Nusantara is given a more patriotic angle. In 1334, the great Majapahit Empire used the term 'Nusantara' referring to the maritime routes around their dominions in Sumatra and Malaya peninsula. although none of the geographers or cartographers used either the term Indonesia or Nusantara to denote this large group of islands, and they were marked with their individual names such as Sumatra, Java, Borneo etc. On some maps, the entire East Indies is labelled as 'Indian Islands' and the same goes for the etymology of the word 'Indonesia'. Interestingly, the currency of Indonesia is the Rupiah whose origin is the same as that of the Indian currency (and several other countries) Rupee. 

The same naming rule shall also be applied to other island groups such as Malaysia, Polynesia, Melanesia, and Micronesia. As the 19th century approached, independent Sultnatates started dwindling under the Dutch and other European influences, but still, there were parts of the island chain that retained their independence even when the Dutch had formally ceded the islands as Dutch East Indies in 1816. The Dutch colonisation in Indonesia can be compared to the British in India where the subcontinent was divided into British provinces and the numerous Princely States, although its number in East Indies was a mere four - Surakarta, Yogyakarta, Mangkunegaran and Pakualaman. By the end of the 19th century, almost the entire East Indies was now under the Dutch administration. During the Second World War, the Indonesian islands became part of the mighty Japanese empire, which was followed by its complete independence (recognised by the Dutch) in 1949. 

Australia 

Restricting Australian exploration only to the 17th century, the name Eendrachtsland was present on navigational charts for some time. While the coast of Western Australia was named Eendrachtsland, the northern tip of Northern Territory, around the city of Darwin and the Kakadu National Park was also named as Van Dieman's Land, although it got more into the limelight when the island of Tasmania was given the same name. The northeastern coast of the Northern Territory was identified with Arnhem's Land while the northwestern coast of Queensland was denoted as Carpentaria. These were the initial European findings on the Australian mainland in the 17th century, much before the word 'New Holland' was used. 

Below here is a recreation of a 1652 dated map by the Dutch cartographer Huych Allard (Huych Allardt) showing only the East Indies and Australian coast and parts of the Philippines. 

Earliest European names of Oceanian Islands

About half of the territories in Oceania (or Australia or Australasia) are still dependencies / overseas departments / external territories / special territory to countries that are not in Oceania (except for few that are either associated with Australia or New Zealand). New Caledonia, French Polynesia, American Samoa, Northern Mariana Islands, Cook Islands, Wallis and Futuna, Norfolk Island, Niue, Tokelau and Pitcairn Islands are the above mentioned territories that had been long dominated by a dominant country that are mostly in Europe. This doesn't mean that these islands were completely barren when Europeans founded them for the first time. But surely they did name it differently at the time they sailed on them initially.

When Ferdinand Magellan sailed from Spain on what today is Northern Mariana Islands in 1521, he named these islands as Las Isles de las Velas Latinas, while to Guam he named it as Las Islas de Los Ladrones. Between 16th to 18th centuries when Cook Islands were sighted by Spanish and British explorers, various names were designated to various islands of this group - San Bernardo (1595), Peregrina (1606), Danger Island (1765) etc. Its interesting to note that over the time almost all the islands changed their name to their local ethnic names (Fiji, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu etc.) while some retain the colonial names (Australia, New Zealand, Solomon Islands, Marshall Islands etc.).

The map here shows a list of some of the names given by the earliest European explorers to these islands. The old names are marked in red while the current names are in blue.