Juanita

Juanita: A Multifaceted Name Across Culture and History

The name "Juanita," a diminutive of the Spanish female given name Juana, refers to a diverse array of entities across film, music, geography, and historical discoveries. Perhaps most famously, it denotes Mummy Juanita, or "The Ice Maiden," a remarkably preserved 15th-century Inca mummy discovered in the Andes in 1995, offering invaluable insights into ancient civilizations. In the arts, "Juanita" titles several films, including a 2019 drama starring Alfre Woodard, and numerous songs spanning various eras and genres, from a 1923 hit by Al Jolson to tracks by Chuck Willis, Underworld, and Shania Twain. Geographically, it identifies locations like a neighborhood in Kirkland, Washington, a music venue in Little Rock, Arkansas, and the Hacienda Juanita hotel in Puerto Rico. The name also appears as a 1947 children's book by Leo Politi, showcasing its broad cultural footprint.