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.
