Iemanjá is the Portuguese form of Yemọja, a major water deity in the Yoruba religion, used in Brazil and other Portuguese-speaking regions by adherents of Afro-Brazilian religions such as Candomblé and Umbanda. The name is a syncretic adaptation that emerged during the era of the Trans-Atlantic slave trade, when enslaved Yoruba people brought their religious traditions to the Americas. Etymology The root name Yemọja derives from the Yoruba phrase Ye mo ori, often interpreted as "mother of fish" (from iye "mother", ọmọ "child", and ẹja "fish"). In its original context, Yemọja is the goddess of the Ogun River in Nigeria, and is associated with pregnancy, motherhood, and protection. The Portuguese adaptation Iemanjá reflects the colonial lingua franca used in Brazil. Religious Significance In Afro-Brazilian traditions, Iemanjá is revered as the queen of the ocean, a epithet less prominent in her Yoruba origins where she is associated with rivers. She is depicted as a motherly and nurturing figure who cares deeply for her children, but can also be destructive when angered, like floodwaters. Her worship often involves offerings placed on boats and sent out to sea during festival days. She is syncretized with several Virgin Mary figures, most notably Our Lady of Immaculate Conception, under whom she is venerated by many Catholics. In Afro-Cuban Santería, she is syncretized with Our Lady of Regla. Notable Festivals The Yemanjá Festival (Festa de Iemanjá) held annually on February 2 in Salvador, Bahia, is one of the largest Afro-Brazilian religious celebrations, drawing millions of participants who offer gifts to the goddess at sea. Another major celebration occurs in Rio de Janeiro on New Year's Eve, where candles, flowers, and other offerings are cast into the ocean as a tribute to Iemanjá and to seek blessings for the coming year. Variant Forms The name appears in multiple forms across the diaspora, reflecting phonological and orthographic adaptations. Variants include Yemanjá, Yemayá (used in Cuba and other Spanish-speaking areas), and the affectionate Janaína, a common alternative in Brazil. The latter is more popular as a given name than the original full form, often chosen for its flowing sound and connection to this powerful universal mother figure. Meaning: "Mother of fish" (Yemọja) Origin: Yoruba, Portuguese (Brazilian) adaptation Type: Goddess name / First name Usage regions: Brazil, Uruguay, Argentina, Portugal