As new Rams rookie Puka Nacua storms the NFL 2023 season, fans are curious to find out what is the correct pronunciation to his name and what his real name is, find out everything below
While the name “Puka Nacua” was only familiar to BYU football fans and die-hard NFL draft experts a few months ago, it is now one of the hottest names in football.
How to pronounce Rams Puka Nacua and real full name pronunciation explained
Through two weeks Puka Nacua and TuTu Atwell have put up NUMBERS 🚀
Stop sleeping on the Rams WR duo 😴 pic.twitter.com/AqGNSOGbTa
— PFF Fantasy Football (@PFF_Fantasy) September 18, 2023
#Rams WR Puka Nacua gets emotional before football games when he starts to think about his late father 🙏🏻
The more and more I learn about Puka, the more I love him as a player and person. pic.twitter.com/nsJKRgHJIT
— JPAFootball (@jasrifootball) September 26, 2023
Nacua has quickly risen up the NFL ranks and the Rams seem to have secured a major steal in this year’s draft.
Puka Nacua makes a brilliant start to his debut NFL season
After Los Angeles star receiver Cooper Kupp got sidelined at the start of the new season, the Rams called up Nacua as his replacement. And Puka has done nothing else except putting in a brilliant display and making the most of his chances as he made history in just two games this year. Puka recently set the NFL record for most catches by a rookie in their first two games. He made an impressive 25 catches for 266 yards and even went over 100 receiving yards in both games. In doing so, he is just the second Rams players to ever accomplish that feat, alongside Kupp.
Puka Nacua correct pronunciation
The correct way to pronounce the name Puka Nacua is “POO-kuh, Nuh-KOO-uh”. Notably, there is more emphasis on the first part of his first name, and on the middle part of his last name.
Puka Nacua real name
Nacua joins a long list of number of NFL players who do not use their official first names. The wide receiver’s actual first name is not Puka, but Makea. According to the wide receiver, he earned the nickname “Puka”, when he was younger.
He explained in an interview:
“In Samoan, it means fat and chubby. It’s from when I was a baby and it kind of stuck. Going up through school, everybody knows me as Puka even though I slimmed out.”
Puka Nacua bio
Makea “Puka” Nacua is an American football wide receiver who was born on 29 May 2001 in Provo, Utah, USA. He currently plays for the Los Angeles Rams as a wide receiver in the National Football League. He was born to parents Lionel Nacua and Penina Nacua and has three siblings – Kai Nacua, Samson Nacua, and Isaiah Nacua.
Age and height
Puka is currently just 22 years old and stands at a height of 1.88 m
Education
Puka attended Washington state from 2019–2020 and later moved to BYU where he studied from 2021–2022.
Nationality
Puka Nacua was born and raised in the United States but comes from a Polynesian background. His mother, Penina, and grandmother both immigrated to the United States from West Samoa.