What Itzel means
Itzel is a girl name of Maya origin meaning "rainbow lady". It comes from often derived from the goddess name Ix Chel (ix (lady) + chel (rainbow)); the popular gloss 'evening star' or 'morning star' is unsupported. It is pronounced eet-SEL.
The most popular Maya name in Mexico, top-20 for girls through the 2000s and 2010s. Etymology uncertain: most likely a Spanish-era reshaping of Ixchel; the 'lucero de la tarde' gloss on name sites is folk etymology.
About this meaning. The etymology is uncertain or disputed. The reading above is the best-supported one; popular baby-name sites often give a more romantic gloss that the dictionaries do not confirm.
Spellings and variants: Itzel, Itzell, Ixel.
Popularity: among the top names for newborns in Mexico. See the current top names.
Related meanings: star, light, beauty.
Itzel is one of the indigenous names that Mexican parents have brought back over the last thirty years. Read about Maya names and how they are built.
