If you’re looking for the perfect baby name and still haven’t found the one for your little one, you might want to consider one of these dozens of meaningful and historically rich Aztec names for girls or boys, or others that are gender. neutral. Think about your world history class in elementary or high school. You’ve probably heard of the various dominant civilizations that lived in parts of Mesoamerica and South America before the arrival of European settlers, including the Aztecs, Mayas, and Incas. We will not go into a history lesson here (as you can imagine, like any settlement situation, it does not end well for Indigenous Peoples), but we will point out that like other civilizations, the Aztecs have builds an advanced society with their own political, social, religious and business structures.
The Aztecs were also relatively diverse – made up of people from different tribes and ethnicities, although many spoke the Nahuatl language. The Aztecs were often named after aspects of nature: whether it was a type of weather, a plant, an animal, an element, or something in the night sky. Although the precise origins of the Aztec people are unknown, it is believed that they began as nomadic hunter-gatherers, so the devotion and special attention to nature makes sense, given the way of life.
In addition to nature, Aztec names frequently came from religion: in particular, the gods and goddesses of culture. Other times Aztec boys were named after famous warriors – although the general population was not allowed to name their children after Aztec nobility (male or female). Aztec names for girls also included meaningful words or phrases, like “you will always be loved” and “forever.” If you’re looking for a little inspiration, check out our extensive – and growing – upcoming list.
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Aztec names for girls
- Amoztli
Meaning: book
Origin: Aztec - Atzi
Meaning: rain
Origin: Aztec - Chiconahui
Meaning: home goddess
Origin: Aztec - Chimalma
Meaning: shield bearer
Origin: Aztec - Citlalic
Meaning: A rising star
Origin: Aztec - Coaxoch
Meaning: Snake flower
Origin: Aztec - Itzpapalotl
Meaning: Name of the famous Aztec warrior
Origin: Aztec - Metztli
Meaning: Goddess of the night
Origin: Aztec - Necahual
Meaning: survivor
Origin: Aztec - Nenetl
Meaning: doll
Origin: Aztec - Quetzal
Meaning: Precious flower or queen
Origin: Aztec - Quetzalli
Meaning: a large and beautiful feather
Origin: Aztec - Tayanna
Meaning: Gift of God
Origin: Aztec - Tlachinolli
Meaning: Fire
Origin: Aztec - Tonalnan
Meaning: Mother of light
Origin: Aztec - Tozi
Meaning: Goddess of healing and fresh water
Origin: Aztec - Xitllali
Meaning: Moon goddess
Origin: Aztec - Xóchitl / Xochil
Meaning: Flower
Origin: Aztec - Yaretzi
Meaning: “You will always be loved”
Origin: Aztec - Yolihuali
Meaning: Source of life
Origin: Aztec - Zaniyah / Zyanya
Meaning: Always, forever
Origin: Aztec - Zeltzin
Meaning: delicate
Origin: Aztec
Aztec names for boys
- Acalan
Meaning: A small narrow rowing boat
Origin: Aztec - catl
Meaning: giant reed
Origin: Aztec - Chicahua
Meaning: strong
Origin: Aztec - Chimalli / Chimalley
Meaning: Shield
Origin: Aztec - Manteaul
Meaning: Serpent or serpent
Origin: Aztec - Coyotl
Meaning: coyote
Origin: Aztec - Cuetzpallée
Meaning: Lizard
Origin: Aztec - Huitzilin
Meaning: Hummingbird
Origin: Aztec - Ilhicamina
Meaning: “He who shoots arrows in the sky”
Origin: Aztec - Itzcoatl
Meaning: Obsidian Serpent
Origin: Aztec - Matlalihuitl
Meaning: a blue-green feather
Origin: Aztec - Mictlantecuhtli
Meaning: The Aztec Lord of Mictlan
Origin: Aztec - Ocotlán
Meaning: pine
Origin: Aztec - Ohtli
Meaning: Route
Origin: Aztec - Quetzalcoatl
Meaning: God of wind and rain
Origin: Aztec - Tlacelel
Meaning: greatest hero
Origin: Aztec - Tlanextli
Meaning: Brilliance or splendor
Origin: Aztec - Tupoc
Meaning: warrior
Origin: Aztec - Xipilli
Meaning: prince adorned with jewels
Origin: Aztec - Xiuhcoatl
Meaning: weapon of destruction
Origin: Aztec - Xochipilli
Meaning: The god of love and flowers
Origin: Aztec - Yaotl
Meaning: warrior
Origin: Aztec
Aztec names regardless of gender
- Atl
Meaning: water
Origin: Aztec - Aztec
Meaning: Aztec
Origin: Aztec - Cualli / Cuallee / Cuallea
Meaning: good
Origin: Aztec - Eztli
Meaning: blood
Origin: Aztec - Ichtaca
Meaning: Secret
Origin: Aztec - Icnoyotl
Meaning: friendship
Origin: Aztec - Ihuicatl
Meaning: The sky
Origin: Aztec - Itotia
Meaning: To dance
Origin: Aztec - Ixtli
Meaning: face
Origin: Aztec - Izel
Meaning: Unique
Origin: Aztec - Mazatl
Meaning: deer
Origin: Aztec - Meztli
Meaning: Moon
Origin: Aztec - Nahuatl
Meaning: Goddess of water and rivers
Origin: Aztec - Tenoch
Meaning: fruit
Origin: Aztec - Toltec
Meaning: An artist or a creative person
Origin: Aztec - Xipil
Meaning: Noble, or one of fire
Origin: Aztec - Yolotli
Meaning: heart
Origin: Aztec - Zuma
Meaning: “The Lord frowns in anger”
Origin: Aztec
Aztec divine names
Aztec names are steeped in history and meaning, and the names of their gods are no different. The names below are not only meaningful but incredibly unique.
Tlaloc
This ancient deity is the supreme god of rain. It also controls agriculture and fertility. Tlaloc is also a prominent figure in the Olmec and Mayan civilizations.
Tezcatlipoca
The name of Tezcatlipoca means “smoking mirror”. He is the god of the night, and he symbolizes death and cold.
Quetzalcoatl
Quetzalcoatl is considered the opposite of Tezcatlipoca. He is the god of wind and life. Quetzalcoatl means “feathered serpent”.
