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At a Glance
- Meaning
- From a Yoruba phrase meaning roughly 'mother whose children are as numerous as fish'; the orisha of the sea and motherhood.
- Origin
- Yoruba
- Gender
- Primarily used for girls
- Pronunciation
- yeh-mah-YAH
Yemaya (yeh-mah-YAH) is a Yoruba name that comes from a phrase meaning roughly 'mother whose children are as numerous as fish.' It is also the name of the orisha of the sea and motherhood, so the name carries water and mothering together.
Meaning & Origin of Yemaya
Meaning: From a Yoruba phrase meaning roughly 'mother whose children are as numerous as fish'; the orisha of the sea and motherhood..
Origin: Yoruba.
How to Pronounce Yemaya
yeh-mah-YAHIPA /jɛmaˈʝa/
Popularity of Yemaya
Yemaya ranked #3684 in 2024, with 42 babies given the name. Its highest ranking in the Social Security data, which covers 1991 to 2024, was #2974 in 2023, when 57 babies were named Yemaya.
Names Like Yemaya
These names have followed a similar path to Yemaya in U.S. popularity over the years.
FAQ
What does the name Yemaya mean?
From a Yoruba phrase meaning roughly ‘mother whose children are as numerous as fish’; the orisha of the sea and motherhood..
How do you pronounce Yemaya?
Yemaya is pronounced yeh-mah-YAH (IPA: /jɛmaˈʝa/).
Is Yemaya a popular name right now?
Yemaya peaked at #2974 in 2023 and is ranked #3684 as of 2024. (U.S. Social Security Administration data, 1991–2024.)
Make Yemaya Name Art
Free printable nursery art for Yemaya, pre-loaded below — pick a layout, palette, and font, then download a print-ready PNG.
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