Jamaican Names That Begin with "Ch" or "Sh"

Edited by Azizi Powell

Latest Update: Nov. 3, 2022

This pancocojams post presents a partial list of Jamaican personal names that begin with "ch" or "sch".

No name meanings are included with these names.

The content of this post is presented for historical, cultural, and linguistic purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to all those who are quoted in this post.
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This post is part of an ongoing series on names and naming practices in Africa and in the African Diaspora.

Some of the names listed below have Hebrew sources. Some have Anglo-European sources and some have Arabic or traditional African sources. Other names are creative spellings, combinations, clips of already excisting names, newly created names.

For two other posts in this series click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2015/05/arabic-names-that-begin-with-sh-or-ch.html Arabic names that begin with "sh" or "ch" and http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2015/05/swahili-igbo-names-that-begin-with-sh.html Swahili & Igbo Names That Begin With "Sh" or "Ch".

Other posts in this series can be accessed by clicking the "distinctive African American names" tab and the "names and naming practices" tab below.

DISCLAIMER:
The lists found in this post aren't meant to be comprehensive and aren't presented in any frequency of use order. Additions are welcome.

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PANCOCOJAMS EDITOR'S COMMENT
Jamaicans and African Americans who have no Jamaican ancestry have similarities and differences between the way they create personal names and their sound preferences in personal names.

For example, since at least the 1990s, a number of African Americans and and a number of Jamaicans have created new personal names with the beginning or ending sound "sha" or "cha", indicating that both populations find those sounds to be aesthetically pleasing, especially in female names.

Some of the names found in the lists presented below are also found among lists of African American personal names. Read my comments in the hyperlinked posts given above about my theory as to why those sounds appear to be among those beginning sounds that are preferred by African Americans.

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JAMAICAN NAMES THAT BEGIN WITH "CH" OR "SCH"
Each spelling is only presented one time for each gender although it might be found in more than one linked list.

FEMALE NAMES
From http://www.babynames.org.uk/jamaican-girl-baby-names.htm
Chantrelle
Charlotte
Chemier
Chloe
Chrystyna
Shakeia
Shakeina
Shakia
Shakina
Shalesia
Shalonna
Shamecca
Shandee
Shandrice
Shaneta
Shanise
Shanish
Shannel
Shantair
Shantaya
Shantel
Shantese
Sharise
Sharisha
Sharonda
Sharrita
Shauna
Shaundra
Shekeia
Shenice
Sherece
Sheree
Shona
Shonelle
Shontal
Shontaya
Shontecia

From http://parentingliteracy.com/baby-names/66-baby-names-by-nationality/130-popular-jamaican-baby-names
Chevelle [pronunciation shay-VEL]
Shakera/ Shakira [sha-KEE-ra]
Shamara [sha-MAHR-a]
Shavoy [sha-VOY]

From http://www.babynamescube.com/jamaican-baby-names/start-letter-c/2
Chandice
Chantae
Chantell
Chantrelle
Charlaine
Charmaine
Chastity

From http://www.babynamescube.com/jamaican-baby-names/start-letter-c/3
Chenell
Cherry
Chris
Chrisann
Chrisette
Christine

From http://www.top-100-baby-names-search.com/jamaica-baby-names.html
Shandi
Sharee
Shariann
Sharron

From http://www.studentsoftheworld.info/penpals/stats.php3?Pays=JAM
(students of the world pen pal statistics)
Shanice
Christina
Shayna
Cheneil
Shaleka
Shantell
ChelSi
Shinel

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MALE NAMES
From http://www.babynames.org.uk/jamaican-boy-baby-names.htm
Shan
Shandrel
Shawnte
Sheik
Sherwin

From http://www.babynamescube.com/jamaican-baby-names/start-letter-c/2
Chad
Champaign
Charles
Charlie

From http://www.babynamescube.com/jamaican-baby-names/start-letter-c/3
Chili
Chilton
Chip
Chris
Christopher
Churchill

From http://www.top-100-baby-names-search.com/jamaica-baby-names.html
Sheldon
Shelton
Shep
Sherlock

From http://www.studentsoftheworld.info/penpals/stats.php3?Pays=JAM
(students of the world pen pal statistics)
Shamar
Shemar

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Additional names (and name pronounciations) are welcome.