When it comes to selecting a baby name, it’s always wise to go back to the basics. The Aztecs might be dead long ago, but they are alive with us in several ways, including being a rich source of unique names for your child.
Aztecs people were ethnic groups found in Northern Mexico in the 16th century. They are believed to have been originated from Aztlan, a mythological place for the Nahuatl speakers. The term Aztecs also referred to the people of Tenochtitlan, which is now the Mexico City. It was in Tenochtitlan; the Aztec Triple Alliance was built upon raised islets in Texcoco lake. This was the first instance of artificial islands. The capital flourished soon and was soon inhabited by over 200,000 inhabitants. The inhabitants were divided into several strata, like the nobles, rules, commoners and slaves.
The Aztec people had complex and rich mythological and religious traditions. Much of their history and culture can be known through the archaeological evidence found in the excavations of the Templo Mayor in Mexico.
Just like the culture and tradition, even the Aztec names carry a rich history. Below MomJunction has compiled a list of distinctive Aztec baby names with meanings. Pick your favorites below.
NAMES | MEANING | GENDER | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Acalan | A small narrow and long rowing boat | Boy | |||
Acuecucyoticihuati | Name of the Aztec goddess of the ocean | Girl | |||
Ahuatzi | Small oak | Boy | |||
Ahuic | Name of the Aztec goddess of the running water in rivers, streams, and waves | Girl | |||
Amoxtli | Book | Girl | |||
Anacaona | Golden flower | Girl | |||
Apozanolotl | Name of the Aztec goddess of purity | Girl | |||
Atlacamani | The Aztec goddess of storms | Girl | |||
Atlacoya | Name of Aztec goddess of drought. | Girl | |||
Atlatonin | Name of Aztec mother-goddess. | Girl | |||
Atzi | Rain | Girl | |||
Ayauhteotl | Name of Aztec goddess of the haze and mist | Girl | |||
Chalchihuitlcue | She of the robe of green jewels | Girl | |||
Chalmecacihuilt | Name of Aztec goddess of the underworld. | Girl | |||
Chantico | She who dwells in the house | Girl | |||
Chicomecoatl | Seven snakes | Girl | |||
Chiconahui | Name of Aztec hearth-goddess. | Girl | |||
Chimalley | Shield | Boy | |||
Chimalli | Shield | Boy | |||
Chimalma | Shield-bearer | Girl | |||
Chipahua | Clean | Girl | |||
Cihuaton | Little woman | Girl | |||
Cipactonal | Production of the day | Boy | |||
Citlalee | Star | Boy | |||
Citlalic | Rising star | Girl | |||
Citlalicue | Star garment | Girl | |||
Coyolxauhqui | Golden bells | Girl | |||
Cozamalotl | Rainbow | Girl | |||
Cuallea | Good | Boy | |||
Cuallee | Spelling variation of Cuallea, meaning good. | Boy | |||
Cuetzpallea | Aztec term for lizard | Boy | |||
Cuetzpallee | An alternate spelling for Cuetzpallea. It means lizard. | Boy | |||
Cuicatl | Song | Girl | |||
Etapalli | Wing | Girl | |||
Eztli | Aztec name meaning "Blood" | Unisex | |||
Guatemoc | Falling eagle or Descending eagle in Nahuatl. It has many variations, such as Cuathemoc, Cuauhtemotzin or Guatimozin. | Boy | |||
Huitzilin | Hummingbird | Boy | |||
Huixtocihuatl | Name of Aztec fertility goddess | Girl | |||
Ichtacka | Secret | Boy | |||
Ilamatecuhtli | Name of Aztec fertility and death goddess. | Girl | |||
Ilhicamina | He who shoots arrows at the sky | Boy | |||
Itzcali | House of beauty | Boy | |||
Itzcoatl | Obsidian serpent | Boy | |||
Itzli | Obsidian | Boy | |||
Itzpapalotl | Obsidian butterfly | Girl | |||
Itztli | Obsidian knife | Boy | |||
Ixcuiname | Four faces or four sisters. | Girl | |||
Ixtli | Face | Girl | |||
Matlalihuitl | Greenish-blue feather | Boy | |||
Metztli | Goddess of night | Girl | |||
Mictlantecuhtli | Lord of Mictlan | Boy | |||
Miyaoaxochitl | Maize tassel flower | Girl | |||
Mizquixaual | Mesquite face paint | Girl | |||
Montezuma | The archer Lord in an angry state. The last ruler of Aztec | Boy | |||
Nahuatl | Goddess of Water and rivers | Unisex | |||
Necahual | Survivor | Girl | |||
Nenetl | Doll | Girl | |||
Netzahualcoyotl | Hungry coyote | Boy | |||
Nochehuatl | Constant | Boy | |||
Nochtli | Prickly pear fruit | Girl | |||
Ocotlan | Pine | Boy | |||
Ohtli | A person who is a champion. Also refereed to the son of Neil. | Unisex | |||
Patlea | Medicine | Boy | |||
Patlee | Medicine | Boy | |||
Patli | Medicine | Girl | |||
Quetzalli | A large beautiful feather | Girl | |||
Tayanna | Aztec name meaning suray | Girl | |||
Teicuih | Younger sister | Girl | |||
Teiuc | Second-born | Girl | |||
Tenoch | Fruit | Boy | |||
Tlachinolli | Fire | Girl | |||
Tlanextic | Light of dawn | Boy | |||
Tlanextli | Radiance or splendor | Boy | |||
Tlazohtzin | Little necklace of flowers | Girl | |||
Tlilpotonqui | Feathered in black | Boy | |||
Tochtlea | Rabbit | Boy | |||
Tochtlee | Spelling variation of Tochtlea, meaning rabbit. | Boy | |||
Tochtli | Rabbit | Boy | |||
Toltecatl | An artist or a creative person | Boy | |||
Tonalnan | Mother of light | Girl | |||
Tonantzin | Mother earth or the mother Goddess | Girl | |||
Tonatiuh | Sunshine | Boy | |||
Tonauac | The one who possesses light | Boy | |||
Tototl | Rabbit | Boy | |||
Tozi | Aztec goddess of healing and sweet water | Girl | |||
Tupack | Warrior | Boy | |||
Tupoc | Spelling variation of Tupack. It means warrior. | Boy | |||
Ueman | Venerable time | Boy | |||
Xicohtencatl | Angry bumblebee | Boy | |||
Xihuitl | comet | Boy | |||
Xilonen | Hairy one | Girl | |||
Xiloxoch | Calliandra | Girl | |||
Xipil | Noble One, of Fire | Boy | |||
Xipilli | Jeweled prince | Boy | |||
Xitllali | Goddess of the moon | Girl | |||
Xiuhcoatl | Comet | Girl | |||
Xiuhtonal | Precious light | Girl | |||
Xiutecuhtli | Gentleman of the fire | Boy | |||
Xochicotzin | Fire serpent | Girl | |||
Xochil | Flower | Girl | |||