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Home › Baby Names Directory › Cayenne

Cayenne

♀ Girl

Pronounced ky-EN /kaɪˈɛn/High

Meaning: From cayenne pepper, whose name reaches back through French to a Tupi word for the chili (kyynha); it is also the capital city of French Guiana. As a name it reads as the spice, which we note honestly — and, to some ears, as a Porsche model.Low

In 30 seconds: A spice name with heat: Cayenne is the fiery pepper, and a city in French Guiana (said 'ky-EN'). It reads as the spice, which we note.
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Origin LowFrench, Tupi
MeaningFrom cayenne pepper, whose name reaches back through French to a Tupi word for the chili (kyynha); it is also the capital city of French Guiana. As a name it reads as the spice, which we note honestly — and, to some ears, as a Porsche model.
U.S. rank (2024)#13774 ↘ Falling
2024 U.S. births6 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)
Peak year2012
Total births (all-time)≈ 410

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 201219782024

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Cayenne names both the hot red pepper and the capital of French Guiana; the word traces through French to a Tupi term for the chili. As a given name it is very rare, bold and spicy, and it reads first as the spice — an association we note, along with the Porsche Cayenne. Warm and daring (said 'ky-EN').

It appears very rarely in U.S. data. Rare, spicy, and bold.

Did you know? Cayenne pepper takes its name from a Tupi word carried into French — and shares it with Cayenne, the capital of French Guiana; a Porsche model borrowed it too, which we note honestly (said 'ky-EN').
Overall data confidence 42%
References — Cayenne — Cayenne pepper; French Guiana capital; Porsche Cayenne association

Variations

CayanneKayenneCayen

Nicknames

CayEnny

Famous Bearers

  • Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Cayenne…

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Sage— a like herb name for a girl
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Charline— shares the -ne ending

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Cayenne mean?

Cayenne is the hot red pepper, from a Tupi word by way of French; it is also the capital of French Guiana.

How do you pronounce Cayenne?

It's said ky-EN /kaɪˈɛn/ — two syllables, stress on the second.

Is Cayenne a boy or girl name?

Cayenne is recorded here as a girl's name; it is chiefly a word and a place.

How popular is Cayenne?

Cayenne is very rare as a given name in the U.S.

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