Metztli
A feminine given name of Aztec origin related to the moon.
Name Census estimates that about 453 living Americans carry the first name Metztli. It is a predominantly female name (98.9% of registrations). The average person named Metztli today is around 9 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Metztli births was 2023 (80 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Metztli. 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
453
~ 1 in 756,632 Americans
Peak year
2023
80 babies that year
Average age
9
years old
2024 SSA rank
#3,354
Tracked since 2001
Gender
Gender distribution for Metztli
Metztli leans heavily female at 98.9% of total registrations, but 5 boys have also been registered with the name over the years, giving it a small but present crossover presence.
Metztli as a male name
- Ranked #13,510 in 2024
- 5 male births in 2024
- Peak: 2024 (5 births)
Metztli as a female name
- Ranked #3,354 in 2024
- 47 female births in 2024
- Peak: 2023 (80 births)
Popularity
Metztli: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Metztli from the 2000s through to the 2020s, spanning 3 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2020s, with 245 total registrations. The name continues to be given at rates close to its all-time high, suggesting it has not yet fallen out of fashion.
Babies born per year
Decades
Metztli 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 Metztli during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Metztlis live
The SSA's state-level files cover 3 states and territories. California, Texas, Colorado recorded the most babies named Metztli, while Colorado, Texas, California recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 80 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Metztli
Metztli is a name of Nahuatl origin, an indigenous language spoken in central Mexico during the time of the Aztec Empire. It derives from the Nahuatl word "metztli," meaning "moon." The name is deeply rooted in the ancient Mesoamerican cultures that revered the moon as a divine celestial body.
The name Metztli can be traced back to the 14th century, when it appeared in various Aztec codices and historical records. It was a common name given to children born during certain lunar phases or celebrations related to the moon's cycles. The moon played a significant role in the religious beliefs and calendars of the Aztec civilization.
One of the earliest recorded mentions of the name Metztli can be found in the Codex Mendoza, a 16th-century Aztec codex that documented the history, culture, and tribute payments of the Aztec Empire. The codex contains illustrations and descriptions of individuals with the name Metztli, suggesting its widespread use during that time.
In ancient Mesoamerican mythology, Metztli was also the name of the moon goddess, often depicted as a woman with rabbit ears or a rabbit accompanying her. She was associated with fertility, water, and the cycles of life. The name Metztli held great symbolic significance in this cultural context.
Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals who bore the name Metztli:
1. Metztli Cuacuapitzahuac (c. 1440 - c. 1520), a renowned Aztec poet and philosopher known for his works on the nature of life and death.
2. Metztli Xochitl (c. 1470 - c. 1540), a skilled Aztec artist and artisan who specialized in creating intricate featherwork and textiles.
3. Metztli Tecpanitzin (c. 1500 - c. 1570), a respected Aztec healer and herbalist who recorded traditional medicinal practices and remedies.
4. Metztli Coatl (c. 1520 - c. 1590), a celebrated Aztec warrior and military leader who fought against the Spanish conquest of Mexico.
5. Metztli Iztaccihuatl (c. 1550 - c. 1620), a revered Nahua midwife and healer who preserved indigenous birthing traditions and knowledge.
These individuals, among others, carried the name Metztli and contributed to various aspects of Aztec culture, art, literature, medicine, and warfare, reflecting the enduring significance of this ancient name.
People
Metztli + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Metztli as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with M
Other first names starting with M with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Metztli: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Metztli?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 453 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Metztli 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 756,632 US residents.
Is Metztli a common name?
We classify Metztli as "Very Rare". It ranks above 83.6% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 456 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Metztli most popular?
The single biggest year for Metztli was 2023, when 80 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Metztli is about 9 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Metztli a female name?
Yes, 98.9% of people registered as Metztli 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.