Whether you’re looking for something unique or more classic, there’s an option for every taste when it comes to Cuban baby names.
With its rich cultural influences, vibrant colors, and unique history, Cuban names offer a specific combination of enchantment and depth.
Here’s our list of Cuban baby boy names and baby girl names to help you with your choice.
¡Vamos, mamá!
In this article: 📝
- How do Cuban names work?
- What is a common Cuban name?
- What is a Cuban girl name?
- What are Cuban boy names?
How do Cuban names work?
Cuban baby names are some of the most inventive on the planet.
Parents love to experiment and are happy to get quite creative with their choices.
From combining the names of two parents to spelling one parent’s name backward, Cuban names are nothing if not unique.
When it comes to last names, Cubans carry two family names — one from their mother’s side and the other from their father’s side.
It’s also not customary for married women to take their husbands’ names.
That means the family name you are born with is the one that you stay with for life.
However, there are still some of the more old-fashioned Cuban names in modern Cuban culture ‒ more on those later.
Why do Cubans have y names?
You might have noticed that a lot of Cuban names start with the letter Y.
In the 70s and 80s, it rose to stardom as a first letter.
In fact, those born at this time are known as the Y Generation.
Yulieski, Yenifer, and Yaniel all found themselves on the list of common Cuban names.
What is a common Cuban name?
First, we’ll let you in on who is winning the popularity contest.
Of all the popular Cuban names, these top the charts ‒ some are more old-fashioned Cuban names while others are modern versions:
- Veronica: “She who brings victory”. 🎉
- Luis: This powerful Spanish name means “famous warrior”.
- Roberto: A name of Italian origin, Roberto means “bright fame”.
- Jose: This popular Spanish form of the name Joseph means “he shall add”.
- Caridad: From Spanish roots, Caridad means “charity”.
- Rafael: A timeless name that never goes out of style, Rafael means “God has healed”. It also may just be the name of your favorite Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle.
- Manuel: From the Hebrew Immanuel, this name means “God with us”. It can be shortened to the adorable Mannie.
- Ramon: Meaning “wise protector”, Ramon is the Spanish version of the Germanic name, Raymond.
- Carlos: Meaning “free man”.
- Antonio: A name that’s been in circulation for centuries, Antonio means “flourishing”.
What is a Cuban girl name?
Now onto our list of Cuban baby girl names.
Here, you’ll see lots of names that end in A, with feminine-sounding words and meanings.
Let’s dive in.
- Acindina: Of Greek origin, this tranquil name means “safe”.
- Adoncia: This Spanish name means “sweet”.🍯
- Agueda: Meaning “good-hearted”.
- Alegria: Meaning “delight”.
- Alejandra: The Spanish form of Alexandra, Alejandra means “defender of mankind”.
Aleja is also a common Cuban nickname.
- Aletha: A sweet Cuban girl’s name meaning “truth”.
- Alicia: Meaning “noble”.
- Allita: Meaning “earth”.
- Alondra: Meaning “defender of men”.
- Alysa: Meaning “rational one”.
- Analena: Meaning “gracious”.
- Aymee: Like its English counterpart Amy, Aymee means “beloved”. ❤️
- Barbara: A name that celebrates diversity and uniqueness, Barbara means “foreign” or “strange”.
- Beatriz: Meaning “voyager”. 🌎
- Benita: Meaning “blessed”. 💖
- Bernanda: Meaning “strong as a bear”.
- Blanca: Meaning “white”. 🤍
- Catalina: Meaning “pure”.
- Charo: Meaning “beautiful flower”.
- Clara: Meaning “clear and bright”.
- Dalila: From the Biblical name Delilah, Dalila means “delicate”.
- Damasia: This beautiful name refers to someone from the Adriatic Sea, the body of water that separates Italy from the Balkans.
- Desirada: Meaning “wished for”.
- Dunia: Meaning “world”. 🌎
- Elena: Meaning “shining light”. 🌟
- Elisa: A diminutive of the timeless name, Elizabeth, Elisa means “God is my promise”.
- Enricua: Meaning “ruler”.
- Estefania: Meaning “crowned with laurel leaves”.
- Ezmeralda: Meaning “emerald”.
- Floramaria: This combination name is made up of Flora, meaning “flower”, and Maria, which has a few different names — “of the sea”, “beloved”, and “bitterness”.
- Giselle: This name promises to be a hit — it means “oath”. It belongs to the Cuban-American singer Giselle Bellas.
- Guillerma: Meaning “resolute protector”.
- Havana: Meaning “heaven”.
- Hermosa: Meaning “beautiful”.
- Ignatia: Meaning “fiery one”.
- Ines: Meaning “pure and holy”.
- Itxaro: A name of Spanish origin, Itxaro means “hope”. And if you’re wondering how to pronounce it, here’s a quick guide: IHT-KAR-ow.
- Jaquinda: Meaning “beautiful”.
- Karolay: Meaning “strong”.
- Katrina: Meaning “pure”.
- Liliana: As in the lily flower.
- Lisandra: Meaning “defender of mankind”.
- Lola: This popular name has a melancholic meaning. From the Spanish name Dolores, Lola means “sorrows”.
- Lur: Meaning “earth”. 🌎
- Maricela: Meaning “of Mars”.
- Mariposa: Meaning “butterfly”. 🦋
- Marquesa: Meaning “works with a hammer”. 🔨
- Mayte: Meaning “lovable”.
- Mirana: This enigmatic name means “strange and beautiful”.
- Mivida: Meaning “my life”.
- Neoma: Meaning “new moon”. 🌙
- Novia: Meaning “new” and “young”.
- Orquidea: Meaning “beautiful as a flower”.
- Osanna: Meaning “praise God”.
- Prudenciana: Meaning “prudent”.
- Quillen: Meaning “women of the heights”.
- Quirita: Meaning “citizen”.
- Ramira: Meaning “judicious”.
- Retha: Meaning “virtuous”.
- Romula: Meaning “strong one”.
- Rosa: 🌹
- Safia: Meaning “pure”.
- Samantha: Meaning “listens to God”.
- Santanna: Meaning “saint”.
- Secundila: Meaning “second daughter”.
- Silvana: Meaning “wood”.
- Solana: Meaning “sunshine”.
- Telma: Meaning “willful”.
- Touissant: Meaning “all saints”.
- Tranquila: Meaning “calm and peaceful”.
- Urbana: Meaning “from the city”.
- Valeria: Meaning “strong and brave”.
- Veredigna: Meaning “honorable one”.
- Verita: Meaning “truth”.
- Vinita: Meaning “beloved”.
- Xiomara: Meaning “ready for battle”.
- Yaime: Meaning “God protects”.
- Yandra: The first of the Y names on our list, Yandra is a Cuban version of Sandra, meaning “protector of man”.
- Yanet: Just like Janet, this name means “God is gracious”.
- Yenifer: Like its partner name Jennifer, Yenifer means “fair one”.
- Yolanda: Meaning “violet”.
- Yoselin or Yocelin: Meaning “oyous”.
- Ximena: A feminine version of the name Simeon. What does Ximena mean? “One who hears”.
- Xiomara: Meaning “battle ready”.
- Zamira: Meaning “nightingale”. 🎵🐦
- Zelia: Meaning “sunshine”.
What are Cuban boy names?
Now for Cuban names for boys ‒ just as Cuban girl names typically end in A, many (though certainly not all) Cuban boy names tend to end in O.
Which make your top picks?
- Abelardo: Meaning “noble”.
- Alejandro: Meaning “defender of mankind”.
- Alvaro: A name both adorable and mighty, Alvaro means “elf warrior”.
- Anton: Meaning “praiseworthy”.
- Basilio: Meaning “royal”.
- Bembe: Meaning “prophet”.
- Bonifacio: Meaning “one who does good deeds”.
- Camilo: Meaning “helper to the priest”.
- Castilo: Meaning “castle”. 🏰
- Cedro: Meaning “strong gift”.
- Che: Perhaps the most well-known figure of the Cuban revolution, Che Guevara has made his first name particularly famous in the country. Che means “God will increase”.
- Chumo: Meaning “twin”.
- Cordaro: Meaning “little lamb”.
- Dalian: Meaning “valley”.
- Desiderio: This exquisite Spanish name means “desired one”.
- Diego: While it may not seem like it, Diego is the Spanish version of James. It means “supplanter”.
- Duardo: Meaning “prosperous guardian”.
- Edmundo: Meaning “prosperous protector”.
- Eladio: Meaning “from Greece”.
- Elian: Meaning “brightness”. ✨
- Emeterio: Meaning “deserves affection”. ❤️
- Epifanio: Meaning “shines brightly”.
- Ermano: Meaning “noble soldier”.
- Ernesto: Meaning “sincere” and “diligent”.
- Euxenio: Like its Greek counterpart Eugenio, Euxenio means “noble”.
- Fanuco: Meaning “free”.
- Fidel. Meaning “faithful”.
- Filiberto: Meaning “very bright”. ✨ ✨ ✨
- Francisco: Meaning “free man”.
- Frederico: This Spanish name means “peaceful ruler” and can be shortened to the sweet Freddie or Fred.
- Geraldo: Meaning “rules by the spear”.
- Gimoaldo: Meaning “confessor”.
- Herodoto: Meaning “sacred talent”.
- Hilario: As it sounds, Hilario means “cheerful”.
- Homero: Meaning “security” or “pledge”.
- Incencio: Meaning “white”.
- Ireneo: Meaning “lover of peace”. 🕊️
- Javiero: Meaning “bright”.
- Jimeno: Meaning “God has heard”.
- Juan: The Spanish version of John, Juan means “graced by God”.
- Julio: Meaning “youthful”.
- Kosmo: Meaning “cosmic”.
- Learco: Meaning “judge of the village”.
- Macario: Meaning “blessed”. ❤️
- Maceo: Meaning “gift of God”.
- Manuel: This popular name means “God is with us”.
- Melecio: Meaning “attentive”.
- Miguel: The Spanish version of the popular name Michael, Miguel means “who is like God”.
- Montego: Meaning “mountain”.
- Nerio: Meaning “sea traveler”.
- Nestor: Of Greek origin, Nestor means “one who returns from travel”.
- Normando: Meaning “from the north”.
- Orfeo: Meaning “good voice”.
- Osvaldo: Meaning “God’s power”.
- Panfilo: Meaning “friend to all”.
- Paz: Meaning “peace”. 🕊️
- Pello: Meaning “stone”.
- Pirro: Meaning “flaming hair”. 🔥
- Placido: Meaning “calm and peaceful”.
- Quito: Meaning “fifth child”.
- Raul: Meaning “wolf counsel”. 🐺
- Reinaldo: Of German origin, this popular name means “ruler”.
- Reinier: An Old Norse name, Reinier means “counseling warrior”.
- Reymundo: Meaning “wise protector”.
- Roberto: Meaning “bright fame”. 🌟
- Rodolfo: Meaning “famous wolf”. 🐺
- Rogelio: Meaning “famous warrior”.
- Sandro: Meaning “defender of men”.
- Silverio: Meaning “wood”.
- Socorro: Meaning “helper”.
- Tajo: Meaning “day”.
- Teodosio: Meaning “gift from God”.
- Terencio: Meaning “smooth”.
- Ticiano: Meaning “hero”.
- Vincente: Meaning “victorious”.
- Virgilio: Meaning “staff-bearer”.
- Vuno: Meaning “from the mountains”.
- Xalbador: Meaning “savior”.
- Xeronimo: Meaning “holy”.
- Yago: A variation of the name Diego, Yago means “supplanter”.
- Yasiel: Of Hebrew origin, Yasiel means “whom God made”.
- Yunior: Like Junior.
- Yulieski: One of the more interesting Y names on the table, Yulieski means “young” and can be shortened to Yuli.
- Yuri: Meaning “farmer”.
- Yudel: Meaning “praised”.
- Zotico: Meaning “long life”.
There you have it ‒ the ultimate list of powerful, beautiful, and inspiring Cuban baby names for your little chiquito.
Which ones have made your top contenders? Share them with the other moms-to-be of Peanut!
Happy choosing!