What Tlacaélel means
Tlacaélel is a boy name of Nahuatl (Aztec) origin meaning "man of strong heart". It comes from tlācatl (person) + ēllelli (strong emotion, anguish); reading 'courageous man' is conventional. It is pronounced tlah-kah-EH-lel.
Chief adviser (cihuacóatl) to four Aztec rulers and architect of the imperial ideology. Etymology uncertain; 'lion-hearted' and 'diligent man' are both offered. Historical figure; the name is rarely given today.
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: Tlacaelel.
Popularity: rare in Mexico today.
Related meanings: royalty, wisdom, strength.
Tlacaélel is one of the indigenous names that Mexican parents have brought back over the last thirty years. Read about Nahuatl (Aztec) names and how they are built, or see more Nahuatl (Aztec) boy names.
