100+ Aztec Names (Male, Female & Gender-Neutral)

The Aztecs were a powerful civilization that inhabited central Mexico for hundreds of years. Their influence lives on in the architecture, art, and culture of Mexico. That goes for names too! Aztec names come from the Nahuatl language spoken by the Aztecs. In this article, we partnered with an Aztec historian to cover some of the most popular Aztec names for boys and for girls, as well as digging into the names of historic warriors. Read on to discover more!

What are some common Aztec names?

Aztec historian Matthew Torres says that people are still given Aztec Nahuatl names, which have the same meanings that they’ve had for hundreds of years. He says some common names include Xochitl (flower), Xolo (north star or naked monster), and Tenoch (rock and prickly pear cactus). Other names include:

Male names: Ahuatzi (small oak), Coatl (serpent or twin), Ohtli (champion), and Xicohtencatl (angry bee).
Female names: Chantico (two-headed), Huixtocihuatl (fertility goddess), Nenetl (doll), and Zeltzin (delicate).

Section 1 of 7:

Aztec Names for Boys

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Many Aztec names for boys signify strength, connection to nature, and warrior traits. In Aztec culture, Torres says that boy names were often chosen based on what their parents or family wanted them to do, whether they were nobles or farmers. He also notes that people are still given Aztec Nahuatl names to this day, and they’ve retained their meanings over hundreds of years.^{[1]
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Matthew Torres
Latin American & Aztec Historian

Expert Interview} The following list includes a variety of names that bring to mind power, resilience, and the ability to overcome obstacles.
- Ácatl: “Large reed”; symbolizes authority and justice.
- Ahuatzi: “Small oak.”
- Chicahua: “To become strong” or “to become mature.”
- Chimalli: A shield made of animal skin.
- Cozcatl: “Jewel.”
- Coatl: “Serpent” or “twin.”
- Cuauhtémoc/Guatemoc: “Descending eagle about to strike prey.”
- Cuetzpallee: “Lizard”; refers to a day in the Aztec calendar that’s linked to the god Huehuecoyotl.
- Huitzilopochtli: “Hummingbird” and “reincarnated warrior of the south.”
- Ilhicamina: “He who shoots arrow up.”
- Itzcoatl: “Black (obsidian) serpent”; name of the Aztec ruler of the empire Tenochtitlan.
- Matlalihuitl: “Blue-green feather.”
- Mictlantecuhtli: "Lord of Mictlan,” god of the underworld.
- Milintica: “He waves fire.”
- Montezuma: “Angry like a lord”; name of last ruler of the Aztecs.
- Necalli: “Battle.”
- Netzahualcoyotl: “Hungry coyote.”
- Nezahualcoyotl: “Hungry coyote.”^{[2]
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- Nezahualpilli: "Hungry prince."^{[3]
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- Ohtli: “Champion.”
- Ollin: “Motion” or “transformation.”
- Tezcacoatl: “Serpent king.”
- Tlacelel: "Greatest hero.”
- Tlanextic: “Sunrise” or “light of dawn.”
- Tlilpotonqui: “Black feathered.”
- Tochtlee: “Rabbit” or “spirited.”
- Tonatiuh: “Movement of the sun”; name of the god who ruled the daytime sky.
- Tenoch: “Fruit.”
- Tupack/Tupac/Tupoc: “Warrior.”
- Ueman: “Venerable time.”
- Xicohtencatl: “Angry bee.”
- Xihuitl: “Comet” or “falling comet”; can also mean “green leaves” or “herbs.”
- Xipilli: “Flowered jeweled prince.”
- Xiutecuhtli: “Turquoise lord”; name of the god of fire.
- Xolo: “North star” or “naked monster.” It comes from Xolotl, the god of monsters, duality, and death.^{[4]
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- Xolotl: “Water dog.” Also the name of the god of death, who has the face of a dog.^{[5]
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  - Torres explains that Xolotl is a psychopomp in Aztec mythology who guides people through the underworld. The Aztecs believed dogs guided them through the underworld, hence Xolotl’s name and appearance.^{[6]
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- Yaotl: “War enemy” or “battle rival.”
- Yolyamanitzin: “Just, tender.”
- Zipactonal: “Harmonic light.”
Meet the wikiHow Expert

Matthew Torres is a Latin American and Aztec historian.

Section 2 of 7:

Aztec Names for Girls

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Aztec names for girls are inspired by Aztec goddesses, nature, and beauty. According to name consultant Natalie Mulholland, names with nature-related and symbolic meaning are common in indigenous cultures, such as the Aztecs: “There [are] certain animals [that] symbolize certain characteristics, like wisdom or strength or courage. So a lot of the time, [indigenous people] choose those styles of names, hoping that it truly represents their child in the future.”^{[7]
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Natalie Mulholland
Name Consultant

Expert Interview} The following names are rooted in the divine and carry themes of strength and harmony. Whichever you choose is sure to have a powerful impact.
- Ahuic: Name of the goddess of running waters.
- Amoxtli: “Book” or “learned.”
- Anacaona: “Golden flower.”
- Apozanolotl: Name of the goddess of purity.
- Atlacoya: “Just or deserved”; name of goddess of drought.
- Atlatonin: Name of the Aztec mother-goddess.
- Atzi: “Rain.”
- Chalchihuitlcue: “She who wears jade.”
- Chantico: “Two-headed”; name of the goddess of fire.
- Chicomecoatl: Name of the female spirit of corn; symbolizes the seven serpents.
- Chimalma: “Shield-bearer.”
- Chipahua: “To become clean or pure.”
- Cihuaton: “Little woman.”
- Citlālicue/Citlalli: Name of an Aztec princess that possibly means “rising star.”
- Coaxoch: “Serpent flower.”
- Coyolxauhqui: “Golden bells”; name of the moon goddess.
- Cozamalotl: “Rainbow.”
- Cuicatl: “Song” or “to sing.”
- Huixtocihuatl: Name of the goddess of fertility.
- Itzpapalotl: “Obsidian butterfly.”
- Macuilxchitl: “Five flowers.”
- Mayahuel: Name of the goddess of the maguey plant.
- Metztli: “Moon.”
- Nahuatl: “Clear language”; the language of the Nahuas.
- Necahual: “Survivor” or “one left behind.”
- Nenetl: “Doll.”
- Nochtli: “Prickly pear fruit.”
- Quetzal/Quetzalxochitl: “Precious flower” or “queen.”
- Teicuih: “Younger sister.”
- Teiuc: “Second born” or “second-born daughter.”
- Tlachinolli: “A burning.”
- Tlalli: "Earth”; represents the beginning of all life.
- Tonalnan: “Mother of light.”
- Tonantzin: "Our sacred mother.”
- Tozi: Name of the goddess of healing and sweet water.
- Xochimali: “Flower shield.” Also a nickname for sunflowers.^{[8]
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- Xochiquetzal: “Most beautiful flower.”
- Xochitl: “Flower.”^{[9]
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  - Torres notes that Xochitl is the most common Aztec/Nahuatl name.^{[10]
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- Xocoyotl/Xoco: “Youngest sister.”
- Yaretzi: “You will always be loved.”
- Zaniyah/Zyanya: “Forever and always.”
- Zeltzin: “Delicate.”

Section 3 of 7:

Gender-Neutral Aztec Names

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These unisex names are a great choice for boys and girls. They carry special meaning and tap into the Aztec spirit. Check out this list:
- Achcauhtli: “Leader.”
- Atl: “Water.”
- Cualli/Cuallee/Cuallea: “Good.”
- Eztli: “Blood.”
- Ichtaca: “Secret.”
- Icnoyotl: “Friendship.”
- Ihuicatl: “Sky.”
- Itotia: “To dance.”
- Ixtli: "Face.”
- Izel: “Unique.”
- Mazatl: “Deer.”
- Meztli: “Moon.”
- Ometeotl: Name of an androgynous primordial god.
- Tenoch: “Fruit.” After the Aztec capital Tenochtitlan, which was known as the place of gardens and flowers.^{[11]
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- Toltecatl: “Artist” or “creative person.”
- Xipil: “Noble one” or “One of fire.”
- Yolotli: “Heart.”
- Zuma: “The lord frowns in anger.”

Section 4 of 7:

Famous Aztec Warriors

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Aztec warriors were important to Aztec society. Warfare helped the Aztecs maintain supremacy and expand their empire. It also helped them secure captives for ritualistic sacrifices to keep their gods happy. Warriors were strong and courageous, and the following list includes the names of a few popular male and female Aztec fighters.^{[12]
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- Male:
  - Ahuitzotl: “Otter” or "water dog.”
  - Cuauhtémoc: “Descending eagle” or “eagle falling.”
  - Cuitláhuac: Name of the tenth ruler of Tenochtitlan.
  - Moctezuma II: Name of the last ruler of the Aztec empire.
  - Tlahuicole: Name of a warrior known for having incredible strength.
  - Tzilacatzin: Name of a legendary hero who held Otomi rank and fought the Spanish.^{[13]
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- Female:
  - Coyolxāuhqui: Name of a powerful goddess of the moon, who led a great battle against her mother.
  - Ītzpāpālōtl: “Obsidian butterfly.”
  - Malinalxochitl: “Black grass flower.”

Section 5 of 7:

Aztec Naming Conventions

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Two names were often combined to create a new name. “The beauty of Aztec and Nahuatl names is that they always had double names,” says Torres. He explains that the Aztecs would take a name that means one thing and then combine it with another to mean something else.^{[14]
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Matthew Torres
Latin American & Aztec Historian

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- For example, Torres says one of the first Aztec princesses’ names was Xochimali: Xochitl means “flower” and Chimali means “shield.” So, her name represented her beauty as well as her tough, warrior side. Plus, “flower shield” is a nickname for the sunflower, so her name also connected her to the sun.^{[15]
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- As another example, Torres says there was a famous Aztec king whose name was Nezahualcoyotl, which comes from Nezahual, meaning “hungry” and Coyotl, meaning “coyote.” Nezahualcoyotl named his son Nezahualpilli, with Pilli meaning “prince.” So, their names mean “Hungry Coyote” and “Hungry Prince,” respectively.^{[16]
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Nobility often changed their names to names of the gods. According to Torres, Aztec nobility would change their names based on the activities they wanted to do or the reforms they wanted to make. For instance, if a king or prince wanted to redo the farming system, they might change their name to Tláloc, the god of storms. Or, if they wanted to wage war, they might rename themselves to Huitzilopochtli, the god of war.^{[17]
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Matthew Torres
Latin American & Aztec Historian

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- Torres notes that a king or prince’s name wasn’t actually the god’s name, but they referred to themselves as the god’s name and they were worshipped as that god.^{[18]
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- So, Torres says Aztec history can sometimes be confusing, as it can be unclear whether someone’s talking about a noble person or the god themself.^{[19]
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Section 6 of 7:

Who are the Aztecs?

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The Aztecs ruled a large empire in Mexico during the 15th and 16th centuries. They inhabited central and southern Mexico, and Nahuatl was their native language. The name “Aztec” comes from “Aztlán,” which means “White Land” or “Land of White Herons.” While little is known about their origins, it’s said they were hunter-gatherers that migrated from northern Mexico.^{[20]
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- The Aztec empire of Tenochtitlán is considered one of the world’s greatest ancient empires ever established.
- Human sacrifice was a significant part of their spiritual beliefs to please Huitzilopochtli, the god of war.
- The Aztecs had an impressive agricultural system in place that helped their society flourish.