"Panama" Means "Abundance of Fish" in Indigenous Cueva Language

Etymology of "Panama"

The name Panama derives from an Indigenous Cueva language word (often cited as pannamá or bannaba) meaning "abundance of fish" or "place of many fish."

Why It Fits

• The isthmus bridges two oceans (Pacific & Caribbean).
• Numerous rivers (Chagres, Tuira, Chepo) and lakes (Gatún, Alajuela).
• Rich coastal/marine ecosystems: mangroves, coral reefs, upwelling zones.
• Pre-Columbian populations relied heavily on fishing.

Historical Note

The Cueva people were largely extinct by the 1530s (disease, enslavement). The name was adopted by Spanish conquistadors for the settlement Panamá (founded 1519, relocated 1673 after Henry Morgan's raid). The country took its name from the city.