Itza
A feminine name of Mayan origin meaning "magic, sorcery".
Name Census estimates that about 388 living Americans carry the first name Itza. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Itza today is around 18 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Itza births was 2007 (24 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Itza. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
People living today
388
~ 1 in 883,387 Americans
Peak year
2007
24 babies that year
Average age
18
years old
2024 SSA rank
#7,351
Tracked since 1978
Popularity
Itza: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Itza from the 1970s through to the 2020s, spanning 6 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2000s, with 141 total registrations. Although the numbers have come down from the 2000s peak, Itza remains solidly in use and shows no sign of disappearing from maternity wards.
Babies born per year
Decades
Itza by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Itza during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Itzas live
Origin
Meaning and history of Itza
The name Itza originates from the Maya civilization, which flourished in Mesoamerica from around 250 AD to the 16th century. It is derived from the Yucatec Maya language, where "Itz" means "dew" or "moisture." The name is closely associated with the Itza Maya people, who were one of the principal Maya ethnic groups and inhabited the area around Lake Petén Itzá in present-day Guatemala.
Itza is believed to have been a common name among the Maya, particularly in the region surrounding Lake Petén Itzá, which was a significant ceremonial and cultural center for the Itza Maya. The name is found inscribed in various Maya hieroglyphic texts and monuments, indicating its usage during the Classical and Postclassical periods of Maya civilization.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Itza can be found in the Popol Vuh, a sacred book of the Quiché Maya containing their mythological and historical narratives. In this text, Itza is mentioned as the name of a Maya ruler or leader.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Itza. One example is Itza Mat, a Maya noble and warrior who lived in the 16th century and played a significant role in the resistance against the Spanish conquistadors during the conquest of the Maya territories.
Another prominent figure with the name Itza was Itza Yaxuun Bahlam, a Maya ruler who governed the city-state of Saki in the 7th century AD. He is known for his military campaigns and the construction of several important Maya structures, including the Temple of the Inscriptions at Palenque.
In the realm of Maya art and culture, the name Itza is associated with the renowned Maya artist and scribe Itza Ahau, who lived in the late 15th century and created remarkable works of Maya calligraphy and codices.
Itza Kan Xib, a Maya noble and diplomat from the 16th century, is also notable for his efforts in negotiating with the Spanish conquistadors and attempting to preserve Maya cultural traditions during the tumultuous period of Spanish colonization.
Itza Chel, a Maya priestess and healer who lived in the 9th century AD, is celebrated for her contributions to Maya medicinal knowledge and her influential role in the religious practices of her time.
While the name Itza has its roots in the Maya civilization, it has transcended its historical origins and continues to be used as a given name in various parts of the world, serving as a cultural connection to the rich heritage of the Maya people.
People
Itza + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Itza as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with I
Other first names starting with I with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Itza: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Itza?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 388 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Itza going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 883,387 US residents.
Is Itza a common name?
We classify Itza as "Very Rare". It ranks above 82% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 394 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Itza most popular?
The single biggest year for Itza was 2007, when 24 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Itza is about 18 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Itza a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Itza in the SSA data are female. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.