105+ Mayan Names (Male, Female & Gender-Neutral)

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Plus, learn about Mayan naming conventions and famous rulers

Co-authored by Dan Hickey

Last Updated: February 25, 2026 Fact Checked

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For Boys

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For Girls

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Gender-Neutral

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Ruler Names

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Naming Conventions

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Who are the Mayans?

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More Cultural Names

The Mayan people have a long and fascinating history full of exciting mythology, awe-inspiring architecture, achievements in math and astronomy—and some very cool names! In this article, we’ll cover some common Mayan names for boys and girls, plus explore some Mayan naming conventions and the names of some of their most famous rulers. Keep scrolling to learn more!

What are some common Mayan names?

An illustrated chart showing Mayan names for men and women.

Many Mayan names reflect the culture’s reverence for nature, battle, and their deities. Names for men include Balam (jaguar), Chaac (rain), Kukulkan (a Mayan serpent god), and Pakal (a famed ruler). Some names for women are Itza (star), Ixchel (a Mayan goddess), Sacnicte (plumeria flower), and Yalit (flower of corn).

Section 1 of 7:

Mayan Names for Boys

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Lots of Mayan boy names reflect strength, power, and leadership. If you’re looking for a boy name that commands attention, this list contains lots of options related to combat prowess, ruling capabilities, and even some powerful Mayan gods.
- Aapo (“father of many nations”)
- Abund (“war chief”)
- Acan (the Mayan god of wine and celebration)
- Ahaw or Ajaw (words used to describe Mayan kings or leaders)
- Apoxpalon (a legendary Mayan merchant-turned-leader)
- Babajide (“father is coming”)
- Balam (“jaguar”)
- Bembe (“son of prophecy”)
- Cabrakan (the Mayan god of earthquakes and mountains)
- Cadmael (“war chief”)
- Chaac (“rain”)
- Chichan (“small”)
- Eadrich (“wealthy monarch”)
- Eloy (“renowned warrior”)
- Fabio (“farmer”)
- Hadwin (“to be strong”)
- Hagen (“highest son”)
- Horado (“timekeeper”)
- Hugo (“intelligence”)
- Humberto (“intelligent, bright”)
- Hunahpu (“one blowgunner”)
- Itzamna (“enchanted” and “grandfather”, possibly referring Mayan deities)
- Ixpiyacoc (the Mayan god who helped birth humanity)
- Jacinto (a Mayan revolutionary who fought against the Spanish colonizers)
- Jasaw (a prominent Mayan ruler)
- Kaax (the youngest Mayan god of forests and wildlife)
- Kan (the Mayan astrological sign for the feathered serpent)
- K’awiil or K’awil (a mythological name meaning “powerful one”)
- K’inich or Kinich (“hot, sunny”)
- K’uk’ulkan or Kukulkan (“feathered serpent” after the Mayan snake god)
- Junjaw (“only king”)
- Pakal (“Sun Shield”, after a famed Mayan ruler)
- Pixan (“soul”)
- Popol (“community” or “council”)
- Smoke (the longest reigning ruler of the city-state Copán)
- Tadeas (“gift of god”)
- Tohil (“tribute”)
- Utsil (“kind”)
- Wayak (“dream”)
- Xbalanque (“jaguar” and “sun”)
- Yaamail (“to be loved”)
- Zipacna (a devious mythological character)

Section 2 of 7:

Mayan Names for Girls

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Many Mayan girl names are inspired by nature and mythological figures. The ancient Mayans believed nature was divine and deeply sacred, and many female names reflect their reverence for the natural world. Many names also come from Mayan goddesses and powerful queens who left lasting legacies.
- Abarrane (“mother of many”)
- Abha (“brightness”)
- Abi (“my father’s delight”)
- Alitzel (“smiling girl”)
- Akna “our mother” after the Mayan goddess of birth)
- Aquetzalli (“precious water”)
- Awilix (“swallow (bird)”)
- Ayikalil (“wealth” or “fortune”)
- Chimalmat (“mother of giants”)
- Colel (the Mayan goddess of bees)
- Eek (“star”)
- Eztli (“blood”)
- Itza (“star”)
- Itzae (“gift of god”)
- Itzameni (“bride of the water sorcerer”)
- Itzia (“princess”)
- Itzel (“resin, nectar, dew” or “enchanted”)
- Ixazaluoh (“dawn”)
- Ixchel (“rainbow lady” after the Mayan goddess)
- Izel (“unique, only one”)
- Kookay (“firefly”)
- Kuxtal (“life”)
- Loolbeh (“flower of the road”)
- Mactzil (“miraculous thing”)
- Naay (“dream”)
- Naré (“the one who receives”)
- Nicte (“flower” or “plumeria flower”)
- Patli (“medicine”)
- Payaan (“woman who is loved”)
- Sacnicte or Sacnite (“White plumeria flower”)
- Sak (after a powerful Mayan queen)
- Sugey (“sunlight”)
- Tecumbalam (the name of a mythical thunderbird)
- Tikal (“waterhole”)
- Xaman (“astrologer”)
- Xareni (the Mayan goddess of love and princess of the forests)
- Xeelja (“sea breeze”)
- Xoc (a powerful mythological Mayan woman)
- Xpiayoc (after one of the mythological creators of humanity)
- Xquic (“lady blood”)
- Yalit (“flower of corn”)
- Yatzil (“love, mercy, charity”)
- Yohl (after the female leader of Palenque)
- Yuritzi (the Mayan goddess of strength and the moon)
- Zazil (“clear, light, clarity”)
- Zyanya (“forever”)

Section 3 of 7:

Gender-Neutral Mayan Names

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These unisex names are perfect for boys and girls. These Mayan names are unique, meaningful, and have stood the test of time for centuries. Consider a gender-neutral name like:
- Atziri (“moonflower”)
- Calakmul (a significant archaeological site meaning “Two adjacent mounds”)
- Cualli (“good”)
- Dacey (“adored”)
- Fa (“prosperity, wealth, or fortune”)
- Itotia (“dance”)
- Kaelan (“warrior” or “mighty”)
- Nakia (“pure” or “faithful”)
- Xiang (“auspicious” or “fortunate”)
- Yaxkin (the 7th month in the Mayan calendar, meaning “green” and “day”)
- Yolotli (“heart”)

Section 4 of 7:

Famous Mayan Ruler Names

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These Mayan names reverberate with ancient power. Mayan city-states were not united into a single cohesive empire, meaning there were many powerful and influential men and women who commanded powerful kingdoms, won decisive military battles, or left a cultural legacy that still fascinates researchers and everyday people today. Here are just a few of their names and key accomplishments:^{[1]
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- Yax K’uk Mo (founder of the Copán dynasty around 426 CE)
- K’inich Janaab Pakal or Pakal the Great (ruler of Palenque for 68 years from 615-638 CE)
- Jasaw Chan K’awiil I (defeated the city-state of Calakmul to restore Tikal’s independence in 695 CE)
- Yuknoom Ch’een II or Yuknoom the Great (ruled Calakmul at its peak from 636-686 CE)
- Itzamnaaj B’alam II or Shield Jaguar II (ruled Yaxchilán for 60 years from 681-742 CE)
- Wak Chanil Ajaw or Lady Six Sky (restored the ruling dynasty at Naranjo in 682 CE)
- K’inich Kan B’alam II (ruled Palenque from 684-702 CE and introduced a new architectural style)
- K’ak Tiliw Chan Yopaat or Cauac Sky (ruled Quiriguá from 724-785 CE and commissioned the tallest Maya Stelae ever carved)

Section 5 of 7:

Mayan Naming Conventions

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1
Infants were named by priests based on their horoscopes. Infants were brought before a priest who examined the child’s horoscope and gave them a name to be used during childhood. This became their first or given name (paal kaba), which had a prefix “H” for boys or “X” for girls. Often, names of animals were added to these prefixes, leading to names such as Ah Balam (jaguar) or Ix Cuat (serpent).^{[2]
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At puberty, boys and girls took on the surname of their father. If their father’s surname was Chel, their names would become Ah Balam Chel or Ix Cuat Chel, for example. They assumed these names after a baptism ceremony where they were sprinkled with rainwater and then burned incense and ground corn.^{[3]
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At marriage, both men and women would change their names again. The new name incorporated the surname of their mother and was known as naal kaba. This replaced the previous name and consisted of the prefix “Na” plus the name of the mother, followed by the name of the father.^{[4]
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- For example, if the mother’s surname was Chan, the name Ah Balam Chel would become Na Balam Chan Chel, and Ix Cuat Chel would become Na Cuat Chan Chel.
- Mayans would sometimes have a fourth name or nickname, known as a oco kaba.

Section 6 of 7:

Who are the Mayans?

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The Mayan people are the descendants of the ancient Mayan civilization. The ancient Maya were a Mesoamerican civilization that inhabited much of what is now southern Mexico, Guatemala, and northern Belize. The ancient Mayans were masters of astronomy, trade, irrigation and farming techniques, warfare, sports, writing, mathematics, and calendar making.^{[5]
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National Geographic
Website of the National Geographic Society

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- They reached their peak power and influence from 200 to 900 CE, building some of their most iconic temples and buildings like those located at Chichén Itza, Tikal, and Calakmul.
- The Maya civilization began to decline in the 9th and 10th centuries CE. The exact cause is unknown, but a long drought is suspected by archaeologists and climate scientists.
- When Spanish colonizers arrived in Mesoamerica, they had no idea that the indigenous people were responsible for the magnificent ruins around them. It wasn’t until the 1840s that the Maya were “rediscovered” by researchers (even though the Mayan people never went anywhere!).
- Today, there are more than 6 million Maya descendants in Mexico and Central America, where Mayan languages, culture, and art still thrive.