What does the name Jamaica mean?

Answer 1

I remember reading a National Geographic article about Jamaica in the 80's. It said that the name Jamaica means "Jah Made Us". Jah is a shortened form of Jehovah such as in "Hall-le-lu-jah", which means "praise Jah".

Answer 2

the name was given to the island by the spanish and later translated to english

The name Jamaica originated from the Taino name "Xaymaca"meaning "Land of wood and water, or Land of springs". The anglicized version of this name became "Jamaica".

(The Spanish called Jamaica "Santiago", they did not give the island the name "Jamaica" nor the name "Xaymaca")

Answer 3

It comes form the Indians there were in Jamaica and they call it land of wood and water and name the land xyamaica. Which means Jamaica

Answer 4

"Jamaica" comes from the Taino indian word for the island, "Xaymaca."

Answer 5

It's a semi-transliteration of a word in the language of one of the indigenous people meaning either "land of wood and water" or "land of springs".

Answer 6

It means me