Who Is Nakoa-Wolf Manakauapo Namakaeha Momoa? Jason Momoa’s Son and Dune Newcomer Explained
Nakoa-Wolf Momoa, the teenage son of actors Jason Momoa and Lisa Bonet, is beginning his own screen career with a role in Dune: Part Three.
Nakoa-Wolf Manakauapo Namakaeha Momoa has attracted public attention for years because of his famous parents and distinctive full name. He is the son of Aquaman actor Jason Momoa and actor Lisa Bonet, best known for The Cosby Show and A Different World.
Now, Nakoa-Wolf is moving beyond red-carpet appearances and entering the entertainment industry himself. He is making his acting debut in Denis Villeneuve’s Dune: Part Three, one of the most anticipated films of 2026.
Who Is Nakoa-Wolf Manakauapo Namakaeha Momoa?
Nakoa-Wolf is the younger child of Jason Momoa and Lisa Bonet. He was born on December 15, 2008, and is 17 years old as of August 2026.
Although he grew up in a family filled with actors and musicians, his parents generally kept his childhood away from constant media attention. Most of his public appearances have been connected to family events, movie premieres and environmental or cultural causes supported by his father.
His name is often shortened to Nakoa-Wolf Momoa or simply Wolf. Professionally, he is credited as Nakoa-Wolf Momoa.
What Does Nakoa-Wolf Manakauapo Namakaeha Momoa’s Name Mean?
Nakoa-Wolf’s full name reflects his family’s Hawaiian heritage and the weather surrounding his birth.
Shortly after he was born, Jason Momoa’s mother explained the meaning of the name on her son’s official online forum:
- Nakoa means “warrior.”
- Wolf was always intended to be part of his first name.
- Mana means “strength” or “spirit.”
- Kaua refers to rain.
- Po means dark or night.
- Namakaeha is a name he shares with his father.
According to the family’s account, Nakoa-Wolf was born during an unusually stormy and rainy night. The elements “kaua” and “po” were incorporated into Manakauapo to reflect those conditions.
The explanation was reported by Access Hollywood following his birth.
How Do You Pronounce Nakoa-Wolf’s Full Name?
Access Hollywood provided the following approximate pronunciation:
Na-Ko-Ah Wolf Mana-Ka-Ooh-Ah-Po Namma-Kay-Ah-Ha Mo-Moa.
Hawaiian pronunciation can be difficult to represent perfectly through English phonetic spelling. However, breaking the full name into its components makes it easier:
Nakoa-Wolf | Manakauapo | Namakaeha | Momoa
The full name honors both the circumstances of his birth and the Hawaiian side of his family.
Who Are Nakoa-Wolf Momoa’s Parents?
Nakoa-Wolf’s father is Joseph Jason Namakaeha Momoa, better known as Jason Momoa.
Jason became internationally famous through roles such as:
- Khal Drogo in Game of Thrones
- Arthur Curry in Aquaman
- Duncan Idaho in Dune
- Baba Voss in See
- Garrett “The Garbage Man” Garrison in A Minecraft Movie
Nakoa-Wolf’s mother is Lisa Bonet, who rose to fame as Denise Huxtable on The Cosby Show and its spinoff, A Different World. Her other credits include High Fidelity, Enemy of the State, Angel Heart and Life on Mars.
Jason Momoa and Lisa Bonet announced their separation in 2022. Despite the change in their relationship, both have continued to support their children while maintaining considerable privacy around their family life.
Does Nakoa-Wolf Momoa Have Siblings?
Nakoa-Wolf has an older sister, Lola Iolani Momoa. She was born in July 2007 and is approximately a year and a half older than him.
He also has an older maternal half-sister, actor and filmmaker Zoë Kravitz. Zoë is Lisa Bonet’s daughter from her previous marriage to musician Lenny Kravitz.
Zoë’s acting credits include The Batman, Big Little Lies, High Fidelity and the Fantastic Beasts series. She made her feature directing debut with Blink Twice.
Nakoa-Wolf, Lola and Zoë have occasionally attended premieres and family events together, but the younger siblings have generally lived outside the constant celebrity-news cycle.
Is Nakoa-Wolf Momoa an Actor?
Yes. Nakoa-Wolf is beginning his acting career with Dune: Part Three.
The film represents his first confirmed professional acting role. The official Dune website lists him and Ida Brooke as newcomers alongside an ensemble that includes Timothée Chalamet, Zendaya, Jason Momoa, Florence Pugh, Rebecca Ferguson, Anya Taylor-Joy, Robert Pattinson and Javier Bardem.
Jason Momoa said his son earned the opportunity independently. Speaking about the casting, he explained that Nakoa-Wolf went through the process himself and would be entering a professional working environment for the first time.
Jason also acknowledged that he could not have handled a project of that scale at his son’s age. His comments were reported by Variety.
Who Does Nakoa-Wolf Play in Dune: Part Three?
Nakoa-Wolf plays Leto II, the son of Paul Atreides and Chani, portrayed by Timothée Chalamet and Zendaya.
Ida Brooke plays Leto’s twin sister, Ghanima.
Both characters are important to the wider mythology of Frank Herbert’s Dune novels. However, the film is primarily based on Dune Messiah, and director Denis Villeneuve may adapt or restructure elements from the books for his version.
The story takes place years after Paul’s rise to power. It explores the consequences of his rule, the religious war launched in his name and the political forces attempting to remove him.
Nakoa-Wolf’s casting is particularly notable because his father also appears in the movie. Jason Momoa returns as Duncan Idaho, the Atreides warrior who died in the first film but reappears in Herbert’s novels as a genetically recreated ghola.
Both father and son are members of the cast, although the extent of their shared screen time has not been publicly confirmed.
When Will Dune: Part Three Be Released?
Dune: Part Three is scheduled to open in theaters on December 18, 2026.
Denis Villeneuve directs the film, which concludes his planned Dune trilogy. The screenplay is credited to Villeneuve and Brian K. Vaughan and is based primarily on Frank Herbert’s Dune Messiah.
The movie also features returning performers Timothée Chalamet, Zendaya, Florence Pugh, Rebecca Ferguson, Javier Bardem, Charlotte Rampling and Anya Taylor-Joy. Robert Pattinson joins the franchise as the antagonist Scytale.
Has Nakoa-Wolf Momoa Appeared at Movie Premieres?
Nakoa-Wolf has accompanied his father and sister to several public events. In June 2026, he joined Jason Momoa and Lola at a London event for Supergirl, in which Jason plays Lobo.
The appearance came as publicity for Nakoa-Wolf’s own acting debut was beginning to grow. E! News identified him as 17 at the event.
Before becoming an actor, he had also attended premieres for movies involving members of his family, including The Batman and No Time to Die.
Nakoa-Wolf Momoa: Quick Facts
- Full name: Nakoa-Wolf Manakauapo Namakaeha Momoa
- Professional name: Nakoa-Wolf Momoa
- Reported birth date: December 15, 2008
- Age in 2026: 17
- Father: Jason Momoa
- Mother: Lisa Bonet
- Sister: Lola Iolani Momoa
- Half-sister: Zoë Kravitz
- First acting role: Leto II in Dune: Part Three
- Film release date: December 18, 2026
Nakoa-Wolf Momoa is still at the beginning of his career, so it is too early to know whether acting will become his long-term profession. However, making his debut in a major Denis Villeneuve production gives him an unusually high-profile introduction to the film industry.