Cayman is a unique and distinctive male given name of Caribbean origin. It is derived from the name of the Cayman Islands, an overseas territory of the United Kingdom located in the western Caribbean Sea. The islands were named after the marine creatures called caymans or crocodiles by early Spanish explorers.
The name Cayman has no specific meaning beyond its geographic association with the islands. However, it carries a strong sense of adventure and exploration due to its origins in the Caribbean and its association with the powerful marine predators known as caymans.
Historically, the Cayman Islands were first inhabited by indigenous peoples who arrived via canoes from Central America around 50 BC. The islands were later discovered by Christopher Columbus during his fourth voyage in 1503. However, it wasn't until the early 17th century that European settlers began to colonize the islands.
The name Cayman has gained popularity as a given name in recent years due to its unique sound and association with the Caribbean's rich history and culture. It is often chosen by parents who wish to give their children a distinctive and meaningful name with ties to the Caribbean region.
Here are some interesting statistics about the name Cayman:
The name Cayman first appeared on the U.S. Social Security Administration's baby names list in 1992 with seven births that year. Since then, it has consistently been given to newborns each year, with fluctuations in popularity.
From 1994 onwards, there was a noticeable increase in the number of babies named Cayman, reaching its peak in 2006 with an impressive total of 27 births that year. This indicates that during this period, more parents chose Cayman as their baby boy's name compared to other years.
However, the popularity of the name began to decrease afterwards. From 2007 onwards, there were fewer than 15 births each year for boys named Cayman. In fact, in recent years like 2014 and 2021, only six babies per year were given this name.
Overall, from 1992 to 2021, a total of 256 newborns were named Cayman in the United States. These statistics show that while Cayman was once quite popular as a baby boy's name, its popularity has since declined over time.