Jamaican Baby Names
The Choicest Ones :-)

Jamaican baby names

Jamaican Baby Names
Nemonie Cassells

We’ve got Keisha, Taneisha, Patricia, Tameika, Sam, Dan, Troy, Roy…YOU NAME IT…Literally! Like our cultural background, the Jamaican baby name is a melting pot of different cultures.

There is no true way of saying “ hmmn, yup! that's a Jamaican baby name right there!” There are however, names that (even though, heard all over the world) are preeetty much common here in Jamdung (Jamaica)!

Our culture is influenced mostly by European and African backgrounds, however, you will find that the names common here, derive mostly from English (such as Dawn) or even Spanish (such as Nicolas) backgrounds over African names (Maybe because most African names are a mixture of throaty sounds and the clucking of tongues than actual words). Too much work I say, just to address someone!

Growing up in Jamaica, I’ve heard names common to the older folks, that I now would be devastated if my parents were so “short sighted” and made the mistake of giving me one such name.

Lets be honest here, we all had or knew someone who had an Aunty Sonia, Charmaine, June, Sheryl, Suzanne, Betty, Angela, Pat or Marlene.

I won't leave out Uncle Otis, Delroy, Johnny, Joe, Mark or Donovan.

Whenever or where ever you hear one of those names you automatically know that that person is thirty and over and can count at least five Jamaicans that you know personally or know of with that name.

I also find it easier to stereotype the male Jamaican names more than the females (lets face it, how many Delroys do you know that are NOT Ja-maicans)

With the advancement of technology and Jamaicans having more and easier access to the world wide web, new names have been introduced to our culture.

With so many names, from so many different backgrounds to chose from, you find that the very common names of the 70s, 80s and 90s are dying out with the persons who have them (we do have to give it to the die hard names like Tamara, Kimberly, and Matthew.

Those names seem to pop up ever so often on ba-bies nowadays).

American pop culture seem to be the go to for new baby names for a lot of Jamaicans of late.

Want a new baby name?

Just ask a friend and I guarantee you that you will get at least one (if not all) of the following names:

• Rihanna
• Payton
• Paige
• Davonte
• Skyler
• Paris
• Destiny

Rules For Choosing Jamaican Baby Names

jamaican baby names

Jamaicans tend to choose their baby names based on these three basic rule:

1. Can it be pronounced in patois without being totally demolished by the average Jamaican?
   
   Lets be frank here… Jamaicans do not play when in comes to destroying the pronunciation of a name to the point where they rename your child all together!
   
   A perfect example of total name destruction is, my sister’s name. I mean how hard is it to pronounce Noelle right? Harder than I thought it seems!
   
   I've heard people call her, New-ell, No-Hell and  No-Well! Come on people its six letters and two syllables!
   
   Seriously?? Well, I guess no one sent our Dad the memo about rule #1 huh?
   
   
2. Is it Unique?
   
   Like all Jamaicans, we want our names to be unique too! One way of ensuring that the name we chose for our babies are unique is putting the parents’ names together to make one!
   
   Yup, I said it, Ken and Keisha makes Keneisha! (This name is not uncommon outside of Jamaica and I don't think we actually came up with it, but I'm pretty sure that’s how this popular name came about).
   
   I for one am guilty of doing this to name my baby cousin( young man now). I used the first three letters In his mother’s name and his father’s name(which happens to be just 4 letters long) and came up with his( to date, I have not heard another…yup I'm that gooood!)
   
   
3. Can the child spell it when he/she is at the age of three??
   
   The true Jamaican knows, nothing tuh wi like a bright pickney (there’s nothing to us like a smart child) and a way of knowing if a child is smart or going to do well in school, is them knowing how to spell their names from a tender age.
   
   So if the child can't spell Quantae-Tiquana at three years of age, bwoi shi gwine “dunce”!
   
   To avoid such bad omen from early, most Jamaicans tend to stick to simpler names that can easily be broken down in syllables if it happens to be more than five letters long.
   

Popular Jamaican Baby Names For The Period 1970 - 2000's

Jamaican Girl Names

• Marlene

• Jennifer

• Sonia

• Beverly

• Charmaine

• Jacqueline

• Cynthia

• Sharon

• Samantha

• Tashana

• Kimberly

• Tameika

• Taneisha

• Tamara

• Teresa

• Chantal

• Shantell

• Shanique

• Monique

• Melissa

• Rihanna

• Payton
  

• Olivia

• Summer

• Maya

Jamaican Boy Names

• Peter


• Mark


• Delroy


• Gary


• Clive


• Nathan


• David


• Shawn


• Kevin


• Paul


• Matthew


• Patrick


• Courtney


• Omar


• Marvin


• Christopher


• James


• Nigel


• Anthony


• Justin


• Joshua


• Jayden


• Andrew

Other Pages Related To Jamaican Baby Names

• Jamaican customs
• Jamaican People & 
• Jamaican Poetry

Return to Jamaican Culture from Jamaican Baby Names
Return to My-Island-Jamaica.com homepage from Jamaican Baby Names

New! Comments

Have your say about what you just read! Leave me a comment in the box below.

Back To The Top Of This Page

New! Get My Latest Book👇🏿

You asked, I've answered! You no longer need to save for months or years, to enjoy paradise! JAMAICA On A Budget is your passport to experiencing what I call 'The Real Jamaica' on a budget! I spilled the beans! sharing my top tips on finding cozy accommodations and secret gems, only the way a native could! Click Here to pick it up on my e-store and start saving now!

See The Best Of Jamaica - In Videos!

My channel reaches over 140,000 subscribers worldwide and has leveraged over 11 million views, sharing, what I call 'The Real Jamaica'. Subscribe today and join our family of viewers.

Read More ...

New! Experience The REAL Jamaica!
Book Your Private Tour here and experience Jamaica the way we (locals) do!

---

P.S. Didn't find what you were looking for? 
Still need help?

Click Here to try our dependable and effective Site Search tool. It works!

Or, simply click here and here, to browse my library of over 500 questions and answers! Chances are someone already asked (and got an answer to) your question.

---

SHOP JAMAICAN Book Local Tours

Book Your Vacation Travel TIPS and Cautions

Watch My Videos!

Featured Video!

Travelling To Jamaica? 

Read this BEFORE you go

👇🏿

Recent Articles

• 
• 
• 

1. How Long Does a Splinter Title Take to Process in Jamaica?

   Jun 13, 25 03:18 PM

   Question from Lloyd Castro: SPLINTER TITLE APPLICATION WAS SUBMITTED TO THE TITLE OFFICE IN APRIL 2022. APPROXIMATELY HOW LONG DOES IT TAKES TO

   Read More

2. The Leaf That Heals - Jamaica’s Beloved Leaf of Life Plant

   Jun 13, 25 02:52 PM

   The Leaf That Heals: Jamaica’s Beloved Leaf of Life If you were born in Jamaica or spent any time around the real bush doctors—yuh know, the

   Read More

3. How Do I Claim My NIS and NHT If My Boss Didn’t Pay Them?

   Jun 12, 25 09:12 PM

   Question from Jane: Can you claim your payroll taxes if they are not being paid? Answer by Wellesley: Jane, this is a very important question,

   Read More

4. How do I find the owner of a vacant lot?

   Jun 11, 25 08:15 PM

   Question from Ashli, Kingston: I am trying to find the owner of a piece of land that is known to be vacant for years. The land is now covered with

   Read More

5. What Is Indexed Universal Life Insurance, and Is It Available in Jamaica?

   Jun 11, 25 08:05 PM

   Question from Kane: What is an indexed universal life policy and do either insurance company offer this indexed universal life policy here in Jamaica?

   Read More