1. Juana: Cuba was first known as Juana after Queen Joanna of Castile in 1511, when the Spanish Empire colonized the island.
2. Fernandina: The island was briefly called Fernandina in honor of King Ferdinand VII of Spain in 1817, during the Spanish restoration of power.
3. Isla de las Cotorras: The island was also called Isla de las Cotorras (Parrot Island) due to the abundance of parrots found on the island.
4. Isla de Santa María del Puerto Príncipe: The eastern part of Cuba, now known as Camagüey, was called Isla de Santa María del Puerto Príncipe after its capital city.
5. La Siempre Fiel: Meaning "The Ever Faithful," Cuba earned this name due to its loyalty to the Spanish crown during the Latin American independence movements of the 1800s.
6. Gran Antilla: Along with Hispaniola and Puerto Rico, Cuba is one of the three largest islands in the Greater Antilles and was collectively referred to as Gran Antilla (Greater Antille).
7. Sugar Island: Cuba was often called "Sugar Island" or "Azucarera del Mundo" (Sugar Bowl of the World), thanks to its prosperous sugarcane industry.
These various names reflect different periods and aspects of Cuba's history and cultural heritage.
