ˈɛf.ˈiː. wˈɪljəmz ɹᵻpˈoːɹts ðætðə "ɐ ˈɛn ɪntˈɜːpɹɪɾɚ sədʒˈɛsts ðæt baɪ sˌʌm mɪsˌʌndɚstˈændɪŋ ðə nˈeɪm hæd ɪts ˈɔːɹɪdʒˌɪn ɪnðə dᵻspˈɛɹ əvən ˈɜːli mˈɪʃənˌɛɹi, hˈuː, fˈaɪndɪŋ ðə nˈeɪɾɪvz tˈɜːnd ɐ dˈɛf ˈɪɹ tə hɪz tˈiːtʃɪŋ, dˈʌbd ðˌɛm ˈɔːl nˈæmaʊ."
F.E. Williams   reports that the "[a]n interpreter suggests that by some misunderstanding the name had its origin in the despair of an early missionary, who, finding the natives turned a deaf ear to his teaching, dubbed them all 'Namau'."