Tlaloc
An ancient Mesoamerican name meaning "He who is made of earth".
Name Census estimates that about 269 living Americans carry the first name Tlaloc. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Tlaloc today is around 16 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Tlaloc births was 2007 (18 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Tlaloc. 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
269
~ 1 in 1,274,180 Americans
Peak year
2007
18 babies that year
Average age
16
years old
2024 SSA rank
#6,127
Tracked since 1977
Popularity
Tlaloc: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Tlaloc 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 99 total registrations. Although the numbers have come down from the 2000s peak, Tlaloc remains solidly in use and shows no sign of disappearing from maternity wards.
Babies born per year
Decades
Tlaloc 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 Tlaloc during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Tlalocs live
Origin
Meaning and history of Tlaloc
Tlaloc is a given name with roots in Aztec culture and mythology. It originates from the Nahuatl language spoken by the Aztecs of central Mexico. The name refers to the Aztec deity Tlaloc, the god of rain, fertility, and water. This name emerged during the rise of the Aztec civilization, which reached its peak between the 14th and 16th centuries CE in what is now Mexico.
The name Tlaloc likely derives from the Nahuatl words "tlalli" meaning earth or land, and "oc" meaning lord or ruler. Combined, Tlaloc signifies the ruler or lord of the earth, reflecting the deity's association with agriculture, water, and the sustenance of life. Variations in spelling and pronunciation exist, such as Tlaloque or Tlalocan, referring to the mythical paradise or dwelling place of Tlaloc and his entourage.
Tlaloc was a prominent figure in Aztec religious texts and codices, often depicted as a blue-skinned, goggle-eyed deity with fangs and a distinctive headdress. The Aztecs worshipped Tlaloc through ceremonies, rituals, and offerings, seeking to appease the god and ensure favorable rainfall for their crops. Records of human sacrifices to Tlaloc exist, underscoring the importance of this deity in the Aztec belief system.
One of the earliest known individuals named Tlaloc was a 16th-century Aztec ruler and ally of the Spanish conquistador Hernán Cortés. This Tlaloc played a pivotal role in the Spanish conquest of the Aztec Empire, aiding Cortés in his efforts to overthrow the Aztec leader Moctezuma II.
In more recent times, Tlaloc has been used as a given name by individuals of Mexican or Latin American descent, often as a nod to their cultural heritage and the rich Aztec mythology. Notable bearers of the name include:
1. Tlaloc López-Watermann (born 1962), a Mexican anthropologist and researcher specializing in the study of pre-Hispanic cultures.
2. Tlaloc Raza (born 1967), a Mexican-American artist and muralist known for his vibrant depictions of Aztec and indigenous themes.
3. Tlaloc Ayala (born 1979), a Mexican professional wrestler and former mixed martial artist.
4. Tlaloc Fernández (born 1981), a Mexican-American writer and educator whose works explore themes of identity and cultural heritage.
5. Tlaloc Zepeda (born 1989), a Mexican-American musician and composer who incorporates traditional Aztec instruments and motifs into his compositions.
Through these individuals and others, the name Tlaloc continues to carry the legacy of Aztec culture and mythology, serving as a tribute to the ancient rain god and the rich history of Mesoamerica.
People
Tlaloc + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Tlaloc as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with T
Other first names starting with T with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Tlaloc: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Tlaloc?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 269 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Tlaloc 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 1,274,180 US residents.
Is Tlaloc a common name?
We classify Tlaloc as "Very Rare". It ranks above 78% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 272 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Tlaloc most popular?
The single biggest year for Tlaloc was 2007, when 18 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Tlaloc is about 16 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Tlaloc a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Tlaloc in the SSA data are male. 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.