Here's How Mahi Mahi Got Its Name - Mashed

Just as Hawaii's state fish is famously named after the Hawaiian phrase for "triggerfish with pig snout" — humuhumunukunukuapua'a — mahi mahi earned its moniker thanks to its defining characteristic: its strength. According to Food Network, "mahi" is the Hawaiian word for "strong;" it became associated with this fish because of its ability to swim incredible distances. Per the Smithsonian, a typical mahi mahi fish can swim at speeds up to 40 miles-per-hour and travel up to 1,864 miles in a single month. (For the record, they're able to keep up this workout by eating 5.6 % of their body weight per day, so they're basically the Olympians of the sea.) As for the repetition in the name "mahi mahi," the University of Michigan explains that it's a form of reduplication, a linguistic process whereby a single word is repeated to convey new meaning, usually for emphasis. In this case, the fish isn't just strong, it's extra strong. 

Although there's no confirmation on when the term "mahi mahi" became popular outside Hawaii (and in many parts of the world today, "dolphin fish" remains common), per Tastylicious, many U.S. restaurants adopted the name around the 1980s to prevent confusion and assure diners they weren't eating Flipper tacos. 

Whatever name you choose to call it, mahi mahi makes for a delicious, lean dinner. And if you're looking for an easy way to get acquainted with this fish, Mashed has you covered with this simple mahi mahi recipe.