The Aztec civilization, known for its rich mythology and cultural grandeur, offers a treasure trove of unique and meaningful names that resonate with power, beauty, and the mystique of an ancient world. Whether your cat embodies the grace of a jaguar, the wisdom of an Aztec deity, or the spirit of a warrior, these Aztec cat names offer a touch of majesty to your pet’s identity.
What Language did the Aztec Speak?
The Aztec people spoke Classical Nahuatl, a language is still spoken in variant forms by approximately 1.5 million Nahua people in Mexico today.
During the time of the Aztec Empire, it served as a lingua franca in much of Mesoamerica, and its influence can still be seen in the Mexican Spanish of today, with many Nahuatl words being incorporated into the language.
Nahuatal Names that Describe Cats
These Nahuatl words not only provide unique names but also connect your pet with the rich linguistic heritage of the Aztec civilization.
- Chicahua: (chee-kah-wah) – strong
- Cuetlachtli: (kwe-tlahkt-lee) – wolf
- Cuicatl: (kwee-kah-tl) – song. A good name for a cat who loves to purr.
- Iztac: (ees-tahk) – white. Ideal for a cat with a pristine, white coat.
- Mazatl: (mah-sah-tl) – deer
- Miztli: (meest-lee) – Jaguar
- Nenetl: (neh-neh-tl) – doll
- Quiahuitl: (kee-ah-witl) – rain
- Teocuitlatl: (teh-oh-kweet-lahtl) – gold. Fitting for a yellow cat!
- Tlazohtlaloni: (tlah-zoh-tlah-loh-nee) – Meaning “one who loves a lot.” Ideal for an affectionate, loving cat.
- Xochitl: (sho-cheetl) – flower
Male Aztec Names
These names draw upon the rich history and mythology of the Aztec civilization, showcasing elements of nature, deities, and traits that were considered noble or powerful.
- Acolmiztli: (ah-kol-mees-tlee) – Arm of the Puma
- Ahuitzotl: (ah-wee-tso-tl) – Water monster or sea creature
- Atl: (aht-l) – Water
- Cipactli: (see-pahk-tlee) – Crocodile
- Coyotl: (koy-o-tl) – Coyote
- Cuauhtli: (kwah-oo-tlee) – Eagle
- Ehecatl: (eh-heh-ka-tl) – Wind, associated with the god of the wind
- Huitzilin: (wee-tzee-leen) – Hummingbird
- Iccauhtli: (eek-kaw-oot-lee) – Little Warrior
- Ilhuicatl: (eel-wee-ka-tl) – Sky or Heaven
- Ixtli: (eeks-tlee) – Face
- Iztac: (ees-tahk) – White
- Iztli: (ees-tlee) – Obsidian or flint
- Malinalxochitl: (mah-lee-nahl-sho-cheetl) – Grass flower
- Matlalihuitl: (maht-lah-lee-wee-tl) – Blue-green feather
- Mazatl: (mah-sah-tl) – Deer
- Mictlan: (meekt-lahn) – The underworld in Aztec mythology
- Moctezuma: (mok-teh-zoo-mah) – He who frowns like a lord
- Nahuatl: (nah-wa-tl) – Four Waters or the name of the Aztec language
- Necalli: (neh-kah-lee) – Battle
- Necuametl: (neh-kwah-metl) – Desirous
- Nochipa: (noh-chee-pah) – Unsurpassed
- Ocelotl: (o-seh-lo-tl) – Jaguar or Warrior
- Quetzalcoatl: (ket-sahl-koh-a-tl) – Feathered Serpent or Precious Twin
- Tequihua: (teh-kee-wah) – Worker or builder
- Tepiltzin: (teh-peel-tzeen) – Noble or Dignified Son
- Tetl: (tet-l) – Rock
- Tezcatl: (tes-ka-tl) – Mirror
- Tezcatlipoca: (tes-kat-lee-po-ka) – Smoking Mirror, a major deity
- Tlaloc: (tlah-lok) – He who makes things sprout, the god of rain
- Tlatoani: (tlah-toh-ah-nee) – Speaker, used for Aztec leaders
- Tlazopilli: (tlah-zo-pee-yee) – Precious Thing or Beloved Son
- Tochin: (toh-cheen) – Rabbit
- Tototl: (toh-to-tl) – Bird
- Xipil: (shee-peel) – Noble one of fire
- Xochipilli: (sho-chee-pee-lee) – Flower Prince, the god of arts
- Xolotl: (sho-lo-tl) – The god of lightning and death
- Yaotl: (yow-tl) – Warrior or enemy
- Yayauhqui: (ya-yow-kwee) – Black Smoking Mirror
- Yolotl: (yo-lo-tl) – Heart
- Zapotl: (zah-pot-l) – Sapote fruit
- Zolin: (zo-leen) – Quail
Female Aztec Names
These girls’ names from the Nahuatl language are unique and descriptive names:
- Ahuiliztli: (ah-wee-leez-tlee) – Joy
- Atzi: (aht-zee) – Rain. One of the shorter Nahuatl names so a good choice as an Aztec cat name!
- Ayauhcihuatl: (ah-yow-see-wah-tl) – Mist or fog woman
- Chalchiuitl: (chal-chee-wee-tl) – Precious stone or jade
- Chicahua: (chee-kah-wah) – Strong
- Chimalma: (chee-mahl-mah) – Shield or protective hand
- Citlalic: (seet-lah-leek) – Star
- Citlalmina: (seet-lahl-mee-nah) – Shooting star
- Citlalli: (seet-lahl-lee) – Star
- Coatl: (ko-aht-l) – Snake or twin
- Coszcatl: (kos-kat-l) – Jewel
- Cuicatl: (kwee-kat-l) – Song
- Eloxochitl: (eh-lo-sho-cheetl) – Magnolia flower
- Ichpochtli: (eetch-poch-tlee) – Young maiden
- Ilancueitl: (ee-lahn-kwee-tl) – Old woman
- Itzpapalotl: (eetz-pah-pah-lo-tl) – Obsidian butterfly
- Iuitl: (ee-weet-l) – Feather
- Iztaccihuatl: (eest-ahk-see-wah-tl) – White woman, also a name of a mountain
- Malinalxochitl: (mah-lee-nahl-sho-cheetl) – Grass flower
- Metzpalli: (mets-pah-lee) – Moon
- Miyaoaxochitl: (mee-yow-ah-sho-cheetl) – Maize tassel flower
- Mizquixaual: (miz-kwee-sha-wahl) – Cloud serpent
- Necahual: (neh-kah-wahl) – Survivor
- Nenetl: (neh-net-l) – Doll
- Nochipa: (noh-chee-pah) – Unsurpassed
- Noxochicoztli: (noh-sho-chee-kohs-tlee) – My necklace of flowers
- Papalotl: (pah-pah-lo-tl) – Butterfly
- Patli: (paht-lee) – Medicine
- Quiahuitl: (kee-ah-witl) – Rain
- Teicuih: (tey-ee-kweeh) – Younger sister
- Teyacapan: (tey-yah-kah-pahn) – First-born
- Tlachinolli: (tla-chee-nol-lee) – Fire
- Tlacoehua: (tla-koh-eh-wah) – Light of dawn
- Tlacotzin: (tla-koh-tzeen) – Younger sister
- Tlalli: (tla-lee) – Earth
- Tlanextli: (tla-nehx-tlee) – Radiance or glow of dawn
- Tlazohtzin: (tla-zoh-tzeen) – The one who is loved
- Tonantzin: (toh-nahn-tzeen) – Our mother, an honorific title for goddesses or respected women
- Tonalnan: (toh-nahl-nahn) – Mother of Light or Sun Mother
- Tonatiuh: (toh-nah-tee-oo) – Sun, the sun god
- Xiuhtecuhtli: (shoo-teh-koo-tlee) – Lord of the Turquoise or the fire god
- Xochilt: (sho-cheelt) – Flower
- Xochitl: (sho-cheetl) – Flower
- Xoco: (sho-ko) – Youngest sister
- Yaocihuatl: (yow-see-wah-tl) – Warrior woman
- Yaretzi: (ya-ret-zee) – Always be happy
Aztec Mythology Names
These Aztec deities represent a wide range of natural elements and cultural concepts, making their names intriguing and meaningful choices for naming your cat.
- Chalchiuhtlicue: (chal-chee-oo-tlee-kway) – The goddess of water, rivers, seas, streams, storms, and baptism.
- Coyolxauhqui: (koy-ol-shau-kee) – A moon goddess, the sister of Huitzilopochtli.
- Ehecatl: (eh-heh-kat-l) – The god of wind, often considered as an aspect of Quetzalcoatl.
- Huixtocihuatl: (wee-sto-see-wah-tl) – Goddess of fertility, also denotes happiness.
- Huitzilopochtli: (weet-zee-loh-poch-tlee) – The god of the sun and war, one of the chief gods of the Aztecs.
- Ixtlilton: (eeks-tlee-ton) – The god of feasting, dancing, and happiness.
- Mayahuel: (ma-ya-wel) – The goddess of maguey, a type of agave plant, and also associated with fertility.
- Metztli: (mets-tlee) – A moon deity and a fun alternative to the oh-so-popular Luna!
- Patecatl: (pa-teh-kat-l) – The god of healing and fertility, also known as the lord of the pulque.
- Quetzalcoatl: (ket-sahl-koh-a-tl) – One of the most recognized Aztec gods, a feathered serpent deity associated with the wind, the arts, and wisdom.
- Tezcatlipoca: (tes-kat-lee-po-ka) – A central deity in Aztec religion, often associated with the night sky, the earth, and the north.
- Tlaloc: (tlah-lok) – The god of rain, fertility, and water.
- Tlazolteotl: (tlah-zol-teh-o-tl) – A goddess of sin but also purification and forgiveness.
- Tonatiuh: (toh-nah-tee-oo) – A sun god, often associated with the journey of the sun across the sky.
- Xipe Totec: (shee-peh toh-tek) – The god of life-death-rebirth, agriculture, and disease. Often depicted as a figure wearing flayed human skin.
- Xiuhtecuhtli: (shoo-teh-koo-tlee) – The god of fire and heat, often considered as the lord of volcanoes.
- Xilonen: (shee-loh-nen) – Young corn goddess, also refers to the hairs of the corn.
- Xochipilli: (sho-chee-pee-lee) – The god of art, games, beauty, dance, flowers, and song.
- Xochiquetzal: (sho-chee-ket-sal) – The goddess of fertility, beauty, and female sexual power, also associated with flowers and the arts.
How to Pronounce Nahuatal Names
Nahuatl pronunciation can be a bit challenging! One key aspect to note is that it is a phonetic language, meaning words are pronounced as they are spelled.
The vowels are pronounced somewhat similar to Spanish: “a” as in “father”, “e” as in “bet”, “i” as in “machine”, “o” as in “more”, and “u” as in “rule”. Nahuatl also has a series of consonants which are somewhat similar to those in English, including “m”, “p”, “b”, “t”, “d”, “k”, “g”, “s”, “l”, “w”, and “y”. Notably, “x” is pronounced as “sh” or sometimes as a guttural “j” as in “jalapeño”.
When it comes to syllable emphasis, Nahuatl words are generally stressed on the second-to-last (penultimate) syllable. The letters “tl” create a unique sound, pronounced somewhat like “cl” in “click”, but with the tongue held at the roof of the mouth. You’ll encounter this sound in many Nahuatl names.
Another notable feature is the saltillo, represented by an apostrophe (‘), which signifies a slight pause or glottal stop, similar to the pause between the syllables in the English “uh-oh”.
Aztec names are also generally long–so you might shorten the name to an easy-to-say nickname!
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