Cayena as a Baby Name. Meaning and Origin of Cayena

What is the meaning of the name Cayena ?

The baby name Cayena is a Female name , 3 syllables long and is pronounced English: /kaɪˈɛnə/ (KYE-en-uh); Spanish: /kaˈjena/ (ka-YEH-na).

Cayena is Spanish in Origin.

Cayena is a modern Spanish given name drawn from the common noun cayena: “cayenne,” referring to the pungent red pepper and, in parts of the Caribbean and northern South America, to the hibiscus (flor de cayena). The term itself traces back to the French place-name Cayenne (capital of French Guiana), to which the pepper variety was linked in early colonial trade; the toponym is believed to reflect an Indigenous Guianan name.

As a given name, Cayena has risen in niche, contemporary use since the late 20th century across Latin America and Spanish-speaking diasporas, prized for its vibrant, nature-evoking sound. Meanings cluster around “fiery, spirited” (from the spice) and “beauty, vitality” (from the hibiscus). Variants and cognates include Cayenna, Caiena (Spanish/Portuguese), Kayena, and Cayenne (English/French). The name reads chiefly feminine in use, though unisex on meaning grounds, and pairs well with botanical or place-inspired middles.

⚙ Cayena is a genuine rarity. We count just 3 recorded uses of it worldwide, from 2 countries.