The word "Gonâve" has Haitian Creole origins and originates from the Taíno indigenous language. The Taíno people were the native inhabitants of the Caribbean islands prior to European colonization. "Gonâve" is said to mean "island" or "land surrounded by water" in Taíno. The word specifically refers to the island of Gonâve, which is the largest island of Haiti located in the Gulf of Gonâve.