Yemaya

A Spanish form of the Yoruba goddess name, Yemọja, this variation is used by the Afro-American community in South America and in the Caribbean. In Yoruba tradition, Yemọja (meaning "mother of fish") is the goddess of the Ogun River in Nigeria, along with pregnancy and motherhood, while in Latin America, she may be linked to figures within Catholicism, notably Our Lady of Regla, an aspect of the Virgin Mary.

Also spelled as Yemayá, other forms include Iemanjá, Janaína, Yemanjá, and Janaína.

Pronounced yeh-mah-YAH.

As of October 2026, Yemaya ranked #4541 for girls in US births in 2025 SSA, peaked at #2974 for girls in 2023.