Cuban Names
Cuban names are a blend of Spanish Catholic tradition, African heritage and a streak of pure invention you won’t find anywhere else in the Spanish-speaking world. A grandfather might be José Manuel, his son Yoandri and his granddaughter Camila — three generations, three naming styles.
Like elsewhere in the Hispanic world, Cubans carry two surnames: the father’s first surname followed by the mother’s, as in José Martí y Pérez. Below you’ll find 85 names sampling every era, from saints’ names to the famous “Y” names of the 1970s and ’80s. For complete lists, jump to our Cuban boy names, Cuban girl names and Cuban last names, or compare with our Hispanic names.
Cuban Names: browse all lists
Classic Cuban boy names
These Spanish names have been staples in Havana, Santiago and Miami’s Little Havana for generations, often used as double names like José Luis or Juan Carlos.
| Name | Meaning | Origin |
|---|---|---|
| José | God will add | Hebrew, via Spanish |
| Carlos | Free man | Germanic |
| Jorge | Farmer | Greek |
| Luis | Famous warrior | Germanic |
| Alejandro | Defender of men | Greek |
| Ernesto | Serious, resolute | Germanic |
| Rafael | God has healed | Hebrew |
| Miguel | Who is like God? | Hebrew |
| Manuel | God is with us | Hebrew |
| Antonio | Possibly “priceless” | Latin |
| Pedro | Rock | Greek |
| Julio | Youthful; July | Latin |
| Roberto | Bright fame | Germanic |
| Orlando | Famous land | Germanic, via Italian |
| Reinaldo | Ruler’s counsel | Germanic |
Classic Cuban girl names
Many traditional Cuban girl names honor the Virgin Mary under one of her titles — above all Caridad, for Our Lady of Charity, Cuba’s patron saint.
| Name | Meaning | Note |
|---|---|---|
| María | Beloved or “bitter” | Often paired: María Elena, María Teresa |
| Caridad | Charity | For La Virgen de la Caridad del Cobre |
| Mercedes | Mercies | From Our Lady of Mercy |
| Ana | Grace | A timeless Cuban staple |
| Rosa | Rose | Also the popular double name Rosa María |
| Marta | Lady, mistress of the house | Biblical |
| Isabel | God is my oath | Spanish form of Elizabeth |
| Teresa | Possibly “harvester” | Honors St. Teresa of Ávila |
| Yolanda | Violet flower | Very popular mid-century |
| Lourdes | From the French shrine town | Marian name |
| Milagros | Miracles | Marian title |
| Elena | Light, torch | Greek origin |
| Beatriz | She who brings happiness | Latin |
| Consuelo | Consolation | Our Lady of Consolation |
The famous Cuban “Y” names
From the 1970s onward, Cuban parents coined thousands of new names — many starting with Y, like Yoandri or Yanelis. One popular theory links the trend to Soviet-era names such as Yuri; nobody knows for sure. Russian names like Vladimir and Olga also became common in the same period.
| Name | Gender | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Yunior | Boy | Hispanicized spelling of “Junior” |
| Yoandri | Boy | Blend of Yo- and Andrés/Andy |
| Yoel | Boy | Spanish form of Joel; MMA fighter Yoel Romero |
| Yasiel | Boy | Baseball’s Yasiel Puig |
| Yulieski | Boy | Baseball’s Yulieski Gurriel |
| Yordan | Boy | Cuban form of Jordan; slugger Yordan Álvarez |
| Yoenis | Boy | Outfielder Yoenis Céspedes |
| Yanelis | Girl | A signature Cuban invention |
| Yamilé | Girl | Triple jumper Yamilé Aldama |
| Yusleidy | Girl | Coined from Y- plus -leidy (“lady”) |
| Yaima | Girl | Soft and short |
| Yargelis | Girl | Olympic triple jumper Yargelis Savigne |
| Yipsi | Girl | Hammer thrower Yipsi Moreno |
| Yuri | Boy | Russian form of George, “farmer” |
| Vladimir | Boy | Slavic, “rules with greatness” |
| Iván | Boy | Russian form of John |
| Olga | Girl | Russian, “holy, blessed” |
| Tania | Girl | Russian short form of Tatiana |
Common Cuban last names
Most Cuban surnames came from Spain, especially Andalusia, Galicia and the Canary Islands. Our full list of Cuban last names covers origins in detail, and our Spanish last names page goes further back.
| Surname | Meaning | Note |
|---|---|---|
| García | Possibly “young” or “bear” | Among the most common surnames in Cuba |
| Rodríguez | Son of Rodrigo, “famous ruler” | Patronymic |
| González | Son of Gonzalo, “battle” | Patronymic |
| Hernández | Son of Hernando | Patronymic |
| Pérez | Son of Pedro | Patronymic |
| Fernández | Son of Fernando, “brave traveler” | Patronymic |
| Díaz | Son of Diego | Patronymic |
| Martínez | Son of Martín, “of Mars” | Patronymic |
| Álvarez | Son of Álvaro, “guardian” | Patronymic |
| Suárez | Son of Suero | Common in Asturias |
| Valdés | From valle, “valley” | Historically given to foundlings raised by Havana’s Casa de Beneficencia |
| Cabrera | Place where goats graze | From Spanish cabra |
| Morales | Mulberry trees | Place name |
| Castillo | Castle | Place name |
Names that honor famous Cubans
A name can be a tribute. These belong to Cuban writers, musicians, artists and athletes known around the world.
| Name | Famous Cuban | Why it resonates |
|---|---|---|
| Celia | Celia Cruz, the “Queen of Salsa” | Joyful and iconic — “¡Azúcar!” |
| Gloria | Gloria Estefan, Havana-born pop star | A Miami-Cuban favorite |
| Alicia | Alicia Alonso, prima ballerina | Grace and discipline |
| Ibrahim | Ibrahim Ferrer of the Buena Vista Social Club | Son and bolero legend |
| Omara | Omara Portuondo, the “Diva of Buena Vista” | Rare and musical |
| Benny | Benny Moré, the “Barbarian of Rhythm” | Cuban big-band icon |
| Desi | Desi Arnaz of I Love Lucy | Brought Cuban music to American TV |
| Wifredo | Wifredo Lam, modernist painter | Artistic and distinctive |
| Alejo | Alejo Carpentier, novelist | Literary and short |
| Dulce María | Dulce María Loynaz, Cervantes Prize–winning poet | Means “sweet Mary” |
| Nicolás | Nicolás Guillén, Cuba’s national poet | Afro-Cuban poetry pioneer |
| Orestes | Orestes “Minnie” Miñoso, baseball Hall of Famer | Greek name, Cuban legend |
| Camilo | Camilo Cienfuegos, a figure of the 1959 revolution | Also a classic Spanish name |
Cuban nicknames (apodos)
Cubans love a nickname, and many people are known by theirs for life.
| Nickname | Short for | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Pepe | José | The classic |
| Paco | Francisco | Also Pancho or Panchito |
| Chucho | Jesús | Pianist Chucho Valdés |
| Lalo | Eduardo | Friendly and informal |
| Kike | Enrique | Said KEE-keh |
| Toño | Antonio | Also Tony |
| Cachita | Caridad | Affectionate name for Cuba’s patron Virgin |
| Lupe | Guadalupe | Also Lupita |
| Nena | — | “Baby girl,” used for daughters of any age |
| Pipo | Papá | Cuban for “dad” or “grandpa” |
| Mima | Mamá | Cuban for “mom” |
How to choose a Cuban name
- Think in pairs. Double names like María Caridad or Juan Carlos are very Cuban; the second name often honors a grandparent or saint.
- Plan both surnames. A baby traditionally takes the father’s first surname plus the mother’s first surname — decide how you’ll handle this on US documents.
- Embrace the Y if you love it. Names like Yanelis and Yoandri are unmistakably Cuban and a fun nod to the island’s creativity.
- Look at cousins. Many Cuban names overlap with Puerto Rican names and Spanish names, so you can find a variant that works for the whole family.
- Check the accent marks. José, Iván and Yamilé keep their accents in Spanish — decide whether you’ll use them on the birth certificate.
Frequently asked questions
Why do so many Cuban names start with Y?
Beginning around the 1970s, Cuban parents invented many new names, often starting with Y (Yoandri, Yanelis, Yunior). One popular theory ties it to Soviet names like Yuri, but there’s no single proven explanation — it simply became a generational fashion.
Do Cubans have two last names?
Yes. Cubans traditionally use two surnames: the father’s first surname followed by the mother’s first surname. José Martí’s full name was José Julián Martí y Pérez.
What is the most common Cuban last name?
Rodríguez, González, Hernández, García and Pérez are among the most common surnames in Cuba, all of Spanish origin.
What does Yunior mean?
Yunior is a Cuban spelling of the English word “Junior,” adapted to Spanish pronunciation. It’s usually given to a son named after his father.
What is a traditional Cuban girl name?
Caridad, Mercedes, María, Lourdes and Marta are traditional choices, many of them honoring the Virgin Mary.