Less often seen were Nahuatl names honoring past Aztec emperors, as these were considered great honorifics within the empire and were reserved for royalty within the Aztec system of nobility. The Nahuatl language is still spoken by nearly 1.5 million people today, the majority of whom reside in El Salvador and Central and Coastal Mexico. The people of the Aztec empire spoke a language called Nahuatl, and as such, Aztec names may also be referred to as Nahuatl names. Naming children after deities became a very common practice, as did drawing names from flowers, trees, animals, and other aspects of the natural world. Within the Aztec culture, both religion and nature were viewed as paramount. Today, their history remains foundational in the establishment of Mexico’s national identity, and names which were popular during the rise and fall of the Aztec Empire remain in fairly common use. Quetzalcoatl means “feathered serpent.The Mesoamerican Aztec peoples, who lived in central Mexico between the 1300s and 1500s, were known for choosing names reflective of their devotion to both nature and their polytheistic worship. Quetzalcoatl is considered the opposite of Tezcatlipoca. Tezcatlipoca’s name means “smoking mirror.” He is the god of night, and he symbolizes death and cold. Tlaloc is a prominent figure in both Olmec and Mayan civilizations as well. He also controls agriculture and fertility. This ancient deity is the supreme god of rain. The names below are not only significant but incredibly unique. Meaning: “The Lord frowns in anger” Origin: Aztec Aztec God NamesĪztec names are filled with history and meaning, and the names of their gods are no different. Meaning: Noble one, or one of fire Origin: Aztec Meaning: An artist or creative person Origin: Aztec Meaning: Goddess of Water and Rivers Origin: Aztec Meaning: Warrior Origin: Aztec Gender-neutral Aztec Names Meaning: The god of love and flowers Origin: Aztec Meaning: Weapon of destruction Origin: Aztec Meaning: Radiance or splendor Origin: Aztec Meaning: God of wind and rain Origin: Aztec Meaning: The Aztec lord of Mictlan Origin: Aztec Meaning: A blue-green feather Origin: Aztec Meaning: “He who shoots arrows at the sky” Origin: Aztec Meaning: A small and narrow rowing boat Origin: Aztec Meaning: Delicate Origin: Aztec Aztec Names for Boys Meaning: “You will always be loved” Origin: Aztec Meaning: Goddess of the moon Origin: Aztec Meaning: Goddess of healing and sweet water Origin: Aztec Meaning: A large, beautiful feather Origin: Aztec Meaning: Precious flower or queen Origin: Aztec Meaning: Name of famous Aztec female warrior Origin: Aztec RELATED: 140+ Popular Mexican Baby Names That Honor The Country’s Rich History Aztec Names for Girls Aztec names for girls also included meaningful words or phrases, like “you will always be loved” and “forever.” If you’re looking for just a bit of inspiration, check out our extensive - and growing list - ahead. Other times, Aztec boys were named after famous warriors - though the general population wasn’t allowed to name their children after Aztec nobility (male or female). In addition to nature, Aztec names frequently came from religion: specifically, the culture’s gods and goddesses. Although the precise origins of the Aztec people are unknown, it is thought that they started off as nomadic hunter-gatherers, so the special devotion and attention to nature makes sense, given the lifestyle. Aztec people often were named after aspects of nature: whether it was a type of weather, plant, animal, an element, or something in the night sky. The Aztecs were also relatively diverse - made up of people from a variety of different tribes and ethnicities, though many spoke the Nahuatl language. We won’t get into a history lesson here (as you can imagine, like any colonization situation, this doesn’t end well for the Indigenous Peoples), but we will point out that like the other civilizations, the Aztecs built an advanced society with their own political, social, religious, and commercial structures. You probably learned about different dominant civilizations that lived in parts of Mesoamerica and South America prior to the arrival of European settlers, including the Aztecs, Mayas, and Incas. Think back to your elementary or high school world history class. If you’re searching for the perfect baby name and still haven’t found the one for your little one, you may want to consider one of these dozens of meaningful and historically rich Aztec names for girls or boys, or others that are gender-neutral.
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