What Is Your Mayan Name?

A common name for Mayan kings, Itzamna translates as 'the chosen one.' Itzamna appears in Mayan mythology as the lover of Ixchel and is personified as the sun, while Ixchel is the moon. As Itzamna, you are a creator who works in harmony with the cycle of nature, and you may be drawn toward a career in astrophysics or medicine. Associated with this name is Itzia, which means 'little princess.' So if Itzamna sounds a little too strong for you, then you are an Itzia for sure.

B'alam is a powerful name used by many Mayan rulers, and it is still common in the pueblos of the Yucatan Peninsula today. Translated as 'jaguar' and associated with the numerous jaguar gods in Mayan mythology, the name B'alam means that, like a jaguar, you have a strong and independent spirit, and you will not hesitate to use your strength to protect the people and places you love.

Y'atzil is a Mayan name that means 'beloved one,' making it a common choice of Mayan parents throughout the centuries. Pronounced Ya-at-Zeel, Y'atzil is a name for a sensitive and kindly person with a childlike sense of curiosity and wonder about the world. As a Y'atzil, you may choose a career that involves helping others, such as teaching, or your enquiring mind will draw you toward fields such as law or psychology.

Literally translated as 'happy rain,' Anayansi is a name that brings good fortune. Not surprisingly, the personality associated with this name is a happy one, and as an Anayansi, you are fun-loving, flexible, tolerant, and pragmatic.

The name Ixchel is pronounced with the soft Mayan 'x' as Ish-shel and translates as 'rainbow light.' In Mayan myth, Ixchel is the moon goddess, lover of the creator Itzamna, and patron of childbirth and medicine. Just as the rainbow combines sunlight and water, Ixchel is a name that combines the power of the jaguar with the calm of the moon. Holders of this name are intuitive and likely to live near oceans, rivers, or lakes.

You are a starman! Xaman translates as 'star,' and the name is associated with astronomy and the movement of the heavens. In Mayan myth, Xaman Ek was the god of the directions and guided travelers on their journeys. People named Xaman are likely to be expressive and diplomatic, and to love traveling. Remember that, in Mayan, the 'x' is soft, so this name is pronounced with a 'sh' as shaman, although the name has no proven link to the modern word.