Aztec dog names are a great choice if you’re looking for an unusual name, want to honor your Aztec heritage, or want a good warrior name for your dog. Aztec names are also fun if you have a Xoloitzcuintlis (Xolo) since these Mexican hairless dogs date back 3000 years to Mexico’s Aztec period.
We’ve listed the top 100 Aztec dog names in various categories, including the meaning from the Nahuatl language (and sometimes the pronunciation).
Before scrolling down this guide, check out these related topics: 200+ Black Dog Names and 150+ Brown Dog Names!
Aztec Dog Names for Female Dogs
If you have a new girl dog, several Aztec names might suit your four-legged friend:
- Chantinco: She who lives in the house.
- Chipahua: Cleanliness, purity. This is an excellent name for a white dog like a samoyed.
- Cihuaton: Little woman (say Ci-way-ton)
- Coyolxauhqui or Coyo: Golden bells (say Coy-olx-auh-qui). Consider this Aztec name for a golden dog like a golden retriever.
- Cuicatl: Song (say Qui-cat-el)
- Itzcali: House of beauty
- Nenetl: Doll
- Siuapilli: Princess
- Tayanna: Gift from God
- Teicuih: Younger sister (say Tie-qui)
- Teiuc: Second born (say Tay-uc)
- Xocoyotl or Xoco: Youngest sister (say Zowk-ayow-tahl)
- Zyanya: Forever and always
Aztec Names for Male Dogs
If you are looking for Aztec dog names for your male canine companion, here are several ideas:
- Acalan: Canoe
- Cozcatl: Jewel
- Montezuma or Zuma: Lord frowns in anger (the name of the last Aztec Empire ruler)
- Milintica: He waves fire. This name would work great for a dog with reddish hair, like a Rhodesian Ridgeback.
- Nochehuatl: Constant (say Noh-chay-watl)
- Tezcacoatl: Serpent king (say Tez-ca-co-atl)
- Tlilpotonqui: feathered in black (say Tlil-poh-tohn-kee). This would be an especially cool name for a black dog like a black labrador.
- Xipilli: Jeweled prince (say Szi-pi-li)
- Zipactonal: Harmonic light (say Zi-pac-ton-al)
Aztec Unisex Names for Dogs
- Aztec: Person from Aztlan
- Cualli: Good (say Kwal-li)
- Ichtaca: Secret
- Itotia: Dance
- Izel: Unique
- Ohtli: Road
- Toltecatl: Artist
- Xipil: Noble one, of fire (say Szi-pil)
- Yolotli: Heart
Aztec Nature Names for Dogs
If you’re a nature fan, there is an abundance of nature-related Aztec names for dogs. Choose an easy one like Atl, which means “rain,” or one that speaks to your passions like Tepeloyotl, which means “heart of the mountains.”
- Ácatl: Giant reed
- Ahuatzi: Small oak (say Aa-weyt-zi)
- Anacaona: Golden flower (say Ahh-nuh-cuh-oo-na)
- Atl: Water
- Atzi: Rain
- Citlalee: Star
- Citalic: Rising star
- Cozamalotl: Rainbow. Consider this name for a multi-colored dog.
- Erandi: Dawn
- Meztli: Moon. Does your dog have a moon-shaped spot? If so, this name might fit perfectly.
- Ocotlan: Pine
- Quetzalxochitl or Quetzal: Precious flower, queen
- Quetzalli: Beautiful feather
- Tepeloyotl: Heart of the mountains (say Teh-peh-loy-otl)
- Tlachinoli: Fire (say Tla-chi-no-lee). This Aztec name may be a perfect fit for a fiery red dog like an Irish setter.
- Tlalli: Earth (say Tlal-li)
- Tonaltzintli: Sun
- Tonatiuh: Sunshine
- Xihuitl: Comet (say Sh-ee-w-ee-tl)
- Xiuhtecuhtli: Fire (say Shoo-teh-cut-lee). This name is another one that would fit a reddish-colored dog, like a dachshund.
- Xóchital: Flower (say Zo-chee-tul)
Aztec Animal Names for Dogs
Sometimes, it’s fun to name your dog after another animal. Give your dog a name related to an eagle, like Guatemoc, or consider the cool-sounding Zolin (which means “quail).
- Cipactli: Crocodile
- Coyote: Wild dog (say Coy-yoh-tay)
- Coyotl: Coyote (say Cah-yow-tah). If your dog looks like a coyote, why not give it a coyote-related name?
- Cuetzpallee: Lizard (say Kyeht-spal-ee)
- Guatemoc: Diving eagle
- Huitzilin: Hummingbird
- Itzcoatl: Obsidian serpent (say Itz-co-tah)
- Itzpapalotl: Obsidian butterfly
- Mayatl: Beetle
- Mazatl: Deer. Do you have a greyhound or other deer-like dog, the Aztec word for deer can be a perfect choice.
- Tecolotl: Owl
- Tochtli: Rabbit. Try this name for a fast dog or one with long rabbit-like ears.
- Xicohtencatl or Xico: Angry bumblebee (say Schee-koh-ten-kahtl). Does your little dog have an attitude problem? If so, this name might fit.
- Zolin: Quail
Aztec Food Names for Dogs
It’s not uncommon for people to name their dogs after foods. Aztec food names can make cute dog names. Why name your dog Peanut when you could name it Cacahuate instead?
- Ahuacatl: Avocado
- Atole: A drink popular in pre-Hispanic Mexico
- Cacahuate: Peanut
- Cacahuatl: Chocolate
- Camote: Sweet potato
- Capulin: Cherry
- Chicle: Chewing gum
- Molli: Sauce (where guacamole and mole originated)
Aztec Warrior Names for Dogs
If you’re looking for an Aztec warrior name for your dog with a powerful demeanor, we have several options from which to choose.
- Atlatl: Spear thrower
- Chicahua: Strong
- Chimalli: Shield
- Chimalma: Shieldbearer
- Eztli: Blood
- Iihicamina: He who shoots the arrow into the sky (say Il-hi-cam-i-na)
- Milintica: He waves fire
- Necalli: Battle
- Tlacelel: Greatest hero (say Tla-celel)
- Tupoc: Warrior. At age two, rapper Tupac Shakur‘s mother renamed him after the Peruvian revolutionary Tupac Amaru II.
- Yaotl: Warrior (say Yow-tul)
Aztec God Names for Dogs
While it’s common to hear people name their dogs after Greek and Norse gods, it’s not nearly as common to find a dog named after an Aztec god. The Azteks had over 200 deities from which you can choose if you find Aztec deity names appealing.
- Camaxtli: Aztec god of the hunt. This name would be perfect for a hunting dog.
- Mictlantecuhtli: Aztec god of the dead (say Miht-lan-tay-kuht-lee)
- Ometecuhtli: Aztec god of duality and life (say Oh-may-teh-kuht-lee)
- Patecatl: Aztec god of drunkenness
- Tezcatlipoca: Aztec god of the night sky and Great Bear constellation. This would be a fun name for a bear-like dog.
- Tlaloc: Aztec god of rain
- Xochipilli: Aztec god of love and flowers
Aztec Goddess Names for Dogs
There is a myriad of Aztek goddess name options you can choose for your little canine goddess.
- Aponzanolotl: Aztec goddess of purity (say A-poz-an-o-lot-oh)
- Atlacoya: Aztec goddess of drought
- Atlatonin: One name for the Aztec mother goddess
- Chalchihuitlcue: Aztec goddess of water collecting on earth (say Chal-chee-weet-lee-kway)
- Huixtocihuatl: Aztec goddess of fertility (say Huix-tow-chi-wat-le)
- Nahuatl: Aztec goddess of water and rivers and also the name of the Aztec language (say Nah-wah-tl)
- Tonantzin: Aztec mother earth goddess
- Tozi: Aztec goddess of sweet water and healing
Naming Tips for a Puppy
Since you will be calling your dog’s name several times a day for years to come, it’s a good idea to be careful with the naming process. Here are some tips to consider.
Tip 1: Wait to Name Your Dog
While it’s tempting to choose Aztec dog names right away, it can be better to wait a few days. Why? Sometimes your dog’s personality doesn’t shine through immediately when it’s feeling a little scared on day one. If you give your dog an Aztec warrior name like Necalli but it turns out to be a big sweetie, you may later wish you’d named it Yolotli.
Tip 2: Try the Name on Your Dog
Not every name fits every dog. Try calling your dog by several names. A few will fit better than others and you might find some easier to say than others. Tayanna might not really fit, but Tozi might be absolutely perfect.
Tip 3: Consider Nickname Options
Aztec words can be a real mouthful, but using nicknames can make some of the Aztec dog names more accessible. For example, Tezcacoatl can become Tezca, Xipilli can become Xippi, or Quetzalli can become Zalli.
Giving Your Dog an Aztec Name
You can choose a random Aztec name that you like for your dog or one that has special meaning, like names related to nature, animals, warrior-like qualities, or Aztec deities.
Whether your dog becomes Xico, the angry bumblebee dog, or Tlaloc the Aztec rain god dog, there is an abundance of Aztec dog names that can be perfect for your unique canine friend.
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Dr. Sabrina Kong graduated from the Royal Veterinary College in England in 2016 and has been working at a small animal clinic in Northern California since then. She grew up in the Bay Area and got her bachelor’s degree from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. She also became a Certified Canine Rehabilitation Practitioner through a program at the University of Tennessee.
When she isn’t in the clinic taking care of her four-legged patients, she enjoys traveling and trying new foods with her friends and her three-legged dog, Apollo. She adopted Apollo from her clinic when he was a puppy with numerous health issues. Dr. Kong truly cares about taking care of animals.