Quetzalli as a Baby Name. Meaning and Origin of Quetzalli

What is the meaning of the name Quetzalli ?

The baby name Quetzalli is a Female name , 3 syllables long and is pronounced keh-TSAH-lee (IPA: /keˈtsali/).

Quetzalli is Nahuatl in Origin.

Quetzalli is a Nahuatl given name meaning “quetzal feather” and, by extension, “precious” or “beautiful.” In Classical Nahuatl, quetzalli referred to the iridescent plumes of the resplendent quetzal, prized in Aztec regalia and ritual, so the name evokes rarity and high value. It shares a root with quetzal and the theonym Quetzalcóatl.

Used as a personal name mainly since the late 20th century, Quetzalli has grown in Mexico and among Latino communities in the United States alongside a revival of Indigenous naming. While most common for girls, it can be unisex in Nahuatl contexts. Variants and spellings include Quetzali, Quetzaly, Ketzalli, Ketzaly, and occasionally Quetzalí. Related Nahuatl nature-meaning choices include Xochitl (“flower”) and Citlali (“star”).