Bolivia

From Bolív(ar) + -ia; coined by Bolivian pastor and deputy Manuel Martín Cruz in October 1825 stating, “if from Romulus, Rome; from Bolivar, Bolivia”.


Venezuela

Inherited from Old Spanish Veneçuela (from Venecia (“Venice”) + -uela).


Florida

Named la florida (“the land of flowers”) by Spanish explorer Ponce de León, referring to its blooming vegetation and the current season having been Pascua Florida.


Santiago

Inherited from Latin Sanctus Iācōbus (“Saint James”), the latter word deriving from Ancient Greek Ἰάκωβος (Iákōbos), from Hebrew יַעֲקֹב (ya‘ăqṓḇ, “Jacob”, literally “he will/shall heel”), from עָקֵב (‘āqḗḇ, “heel of the foot”).

der

Dominican Republic
Dominican Republic#English

The name of several cities in Chile, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Colombia, Spain, and several other Spanish-speaking countries


Santa Fe

Santa Fe (several other places in Bolivia, Colombia, Chile, Cuba, Honduras, Panama, the Philippines, Spain and the United States)


San Pablo

Consolación del Sur
Consolación del Sur#English

San Pablo (a barrio of the town of Consolación del Sur, Pinar del Río Province, Cuba)


Remedios

remedios (“remedies”), shortened from María (de los) Remedios, a Roman Catholic epithet of the Virgin Mary as "Our Lady of Remedies".


La Habana

From Taíno Habaguanex, the native American chief (Cacique) who controlled the area.


Candelaria

From candela (“candle”) + -ario + -a, shortened from Virgen de la Candelaria, epithet of the Virgin Mary as "Virgin of Candelaria."


Villa Clara

rural northern Spain, Andes Mountains, Paraguay, Philippines


Guantánamo

English: Guantanamo

Borrowed from Taíno [Term?] (literally “land between rivers”).


Mella

Santiago de Cuba
Santiago de Cuba#English


Cárdenas

→ English: Cardenas

→ Ilocano: Cardenas

→ Pangasinan: Cardenas

→ Tagalog: Cardenas

→ Waray-Waray: Cardenas

From cárdenas, of Andalusian Arabic origin.


Matanzas

From matanza (“massacre”), referring to a supposed slaughter of Spanish conquistadors by native fishermen of the area.

Matanzas Province
Matanzas Province#English

Matanzas (a city, the capital of Matanzas Province, Cuba)

Matanzas Province (a province of Cuba; capital: Matanzas)


San Cristóbal

English: Saint Kitts

San Cristobal (a city in Artemisa, Cuba)


Isla de la Juventud

Coined by Cuban politician Fidel Castro in 1978 as a reference to the purported revolutionisation of the island by the local youth. Castro had promised to rename the island in 1967.

the Isle of Youth (an island and municipality of Cuba)


Jardines de la Reina

Derived from the plural form of jardín (“garden”) and reina (“queen”). Coined by Spanish explorer Christopher Columbus in honour of queen Isabella I of Castille (1451 - 1504). See also Jardines del Rey.


Jardines del Rey

Derived from the plural form of jardín (“garden”) and rey (“king”). The archipelago is named in honour of king Ferdinand II of Aragon (1452 - 1516). See also Jardines de la Reina.


Cienfuegos

Named after José Cienfuegos, captain general of Cuba (1816-19).


Granma

Named after Granma, the yacht used by Che Guevara, Fidel Castro and 82 guerrillas during the Cuban Revolution, from English grandma.

Granma (a province of Cuba, originally part of Oriente province; capital: Bayamo)

Che Guevara
Cuban Revolution
Fidel Castro
Granma (yacht)
es:Provincia de Granma


Sancti Spíritus

From Latin sancti spiritus, genitive case of sanctus spiritus (“Holy Spirit”).

es:Provincia de Sancti Spíritus
es:Sancti Spíritus

Sancti Spíritus (a city in Sancti Spíritus, in central Cuba)

Sancti Spíritus (a province in central Cuba)


Varadero

Varadero (a city, a resort town in Matanzas Province, in central Cuba)