Ketzaly
A feminine name of Aztec origin meaning "brilliant" or "shining".
Name Census estimates that about 301 living Americans carry the first name Ketzaly. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Ketzaly today is around 7 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Ketzaly births was 2023 (48 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Ketzaly. 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
301
~ 1 in 1,138,719 Americans
Peak year
2023
48 babies that year
Average age
7
years old
2024 SSA rank
#3,600
Tracked since 2003
Popularity
Ketzaly: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Ketzaly 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 159 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
Ketzaly 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 Ketzaly during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Ketzalys live
Origin
Meaning and history of Ketzaly
The name Ketzaly originates from the Nahuatl language, spoken by the Aztec people of central Mexico during the late post-classic period of Mesoamerican history (1300-1521 AD). The name is derived from the Nahuatl words "ketzal" meaning "beautiful" or "precious," and "xochitl" meaning "flower." Together, the name Ketzaly can be interpreted as "precious flower" or "beautiful blossom."
Although the name has its roots in pre-colonial Mesoamerica, it does not appear to have any direct references in ancient Aztec codices or historical records. However, it is possible that the name was used among the indigenous population during that time period, as names derived from nature and elements of beauty were common.
The earliest recorded example of the name Ketzaly dates back to the 16th century, shortly after the Spanish conquest of Mexico. In 1524, a young indigenous woman named Ketzaly was mentioned in a letter written by Hernán Cortés, the Spanish conquistador, as being among the gifts presented to him by the people of Tenochtitlan (present-day Mexico City).
Over the centuries, several notable individuals have borne the name Ketzaly. One of the earliest was Ketzaly Tecuichpo (c. 1540-1610), a Nahua noblewoman and poet who played a significant role in preserving and promoting the Nahuatl language and culture during the colonial era.
Another notable figure was Ketzaly Cuauhtzin (1764-1830), a Mexican composer and musician who was renowned for her contributions to the development of the jarabe, a traditional Mexican dance and musical genre.
In the 20th century, Ketzaly Contreras (1920-1998) was a prominent Mexican actress and singer who appeared in numerous films and stage productions, earning her recognition as a cultural icon in her home country.
More recently, Ketzaly Hernández (b. 1983) is a Mexican artist and activist known for her work in promoting indigenous rights and environmental awareness through her vibrant paintings and murals.
Lastly, Ketzaly Morales (b. 1991) is a contemporary Mexican singer-songwriter who has gained popularity for her fusion of traditional Mexican folk music with modern pop and rock influences.
People
Ketzaly + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Ketzaly as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with K
Other first names starting with K with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Ketzaly: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Ketzaly?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 301 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Ketzaly 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 1,138,719 US residents.
Is Ketzaly a common name?
We classify Ketzaly as "Very Rare". It ranks above 79.2% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 303 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Ketzaly most popular?
The single biggest year for Ketzaly was 2023, when 48 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Ketzaly is about 7 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
What does the SSA popularity chart show?
The chart tracks births, not the number of people alive with the name today. Each point shows how many babies were given the name Ketzaly in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Ketzaly a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Ketzaly 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.
Is Ketzaly still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Ketzaly in 2024, and the page above shows its latest-year rank where available. A name can be well past its peak and still remain in steady use, especially if it built up a large population over earlier decades.
Why can a name have a lot of living bearers even if it is not trendy now?
Because living-bearer counts and current baby-name popularity measure different things. A name like Ketzaly can build up a very large population over many decades, even if fewer parents are choosing it now than they did at its peak.
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.
Does every first name have Census demographic data?
No. The public Census first-name release only covers names that met the Bureau's publication rules, so many rarer names in the SSA files do not have a published Census demographic snapshot. In those cases, the page still shows the SSA trend, gender history, and state data.
How many people are named Ketzaly?
For a quick modern estimate, our sister site HowManyOfMe.org answers that in one glance, with the living-bearer count front and centre.