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I can't seem to find a single website that lists the name "Havana" or "Havanna" or "Havannah" I love this name and will be naming my soon to be born baby Havana. I would like to find out the history of this name. Thank you, Monica
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When I was studying Spanish in Cuba last summer (July 2003), my professor told us that in the early 1500s, the native (Ciboney?) chief of the region around the current city of La Habana was named Habanaguex. From what I've found online, apparently Habanaguex was friendly to the Spaniards, who identified him with the region, and so when the Spanish Catholics founded city on Saint Christopher's day somewhere around 1514, they named it San Cristóbal de La Habana, which is still its official name.
In Spanish, the "v" and "b" are pronounced almost identically, so the Anglicized version of La Habana became Havana.
(Sorry, I also posted most of this elsewhere before realizing where the thread started.)
In Spanish, the "v" and "b" are pronounced almost identically, so the Anglicized version of La Habana became Havana.
(Sorry, I also posted most of this elsewhere before realizing where the thread started.)
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This might be too obvious to mention, but Havana is a port city - is it perhaps a version of Haven (= Harbour)?
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Really, what port city? Do you mean the capital of Cuba? Thanks for your input :)
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na na.. na na na na.. hey hey hey
yea the title has nothing to do with anything
Havana may be a varient on Savana, a popular girls name.
It is of recent origin and popularity, so it is likely created and has no true meaning or background.
~SD
yea the title has nothing to do with anything
Havana may be a varient on Savana, a popular girls name.
It is of recent origin and popularity, so it is likely created and has no true meaning or background.
~SD
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You really think it is of recent origin and popularity? If so, how come I can't find the name Havana ANYWHERE? What do you mean the title has nothing to do with anything? Havana is the capital of Cuba, where by husband was born and raised, that's why I'm naming my child Havana.
Thanks for your opinion.
Thanks for your opinion.
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Habana
I myself have been confounded as to why Americans chose to call Habana Havana. I came to the conclusion that it was a spelling mistake perpetuated by the fatous American notion that they are the name givers, culture givers, political system implementors, etc, etc, etc, of the world.
Then I came upon an alternate explanation to the Habanauex indian.It is said that La Habana was a name of an Hindu diety Lavana (salt water ocean) or perhaps from the Italian L'Avana.
Whichever the case, the name is La Habana, short for San Cristobal de La Habana, and most of us Cubans would like the name respected with the same prudence as we respect Washington, which if witten phonetically in spanish would be Wachinton.
I myself have been confounded as to why Americans chose to call Habana Havana. I came to the conclusion that it was a spelling mistake perpetuated by the fatous American notion that they are the name givers, culture givers, political system implementors, etc, etc, etc, of the world.
Then I came upon an alternate explanation to the Habanauex indian.It is said that La Habana was a name of an Hindu diety Lavana (salt water ocean) or perhaps from the Italian L'Avana.
Whichever the case, the name is La Habana, short for San Cristobal de La Habana, and most of us Cubans would like the name respected with the same prudence as we respect Washington, which if witten phonetically in spanish would be Wachinton.
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But isn't ....
Habana the original Spanish spelling? I've seen a book about place names in my local library (I live in Sweden and the book is Swedish, so I can't recommend it for you, sorry...unless you speak Swedish, of course), but I'll look for the meaning of Havana!
Habana the original Spanish spelling? I've seen a book about place names in my local library (I live in Sweden and the book is Swedish, so I can't recommend it for you, sorry...unless you speak Swedish, of course), but I'll look for the meaning of Havana!
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Habana
HI! I am searching for the meaning to the name Habana... Other than the capital of Cuba and a cigar. If you know anything, please let me know. I have been searching for almost five years. Thanks.
HI! I am searching for the meaning to the name Habana... Other than the capital of Cuba and a cigar. If you know anything, please let me know. I have been searching for almost five years. Thanks.
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When I was studying Spanish in Cuba last summer (July 2003), my professor told us that in the early 1500s, the native (Ciboney?) chief of the region around the current city of La Habana was named Habanaguex. From what I've found online, apparently Habanaguex was friendly to the Spaniards, who identified him with the region, and so when the Spanish Catholics founded city on Saint Christopher's day somewhere around 1514, they named it San Cristóbal de La Habana, which is still its official name.
BTW, Cubans call cigars "habanos" or "puros".
BTW, Cubans call cigars "habanos" or "puros".
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Aaargh, it's San Cristobal, not Crisobal!
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