Being patient, involving ceremony, and self-reflection are key to discovering a proper Nahuatl name. When you are searching for an Indigenous name, it is very important to become educated on the Native worldview, history, and pronunciations as much as possible. I know one can get very excited as they uncover their Indigenous self, and as such, are very anxious to take on a Nahuatl name to express their reclaimed Indigenous identity to the world.
I highly suggest keeping the ego out of your process. Lengthy & exaggerated Nahuatl names with incorrect grammar combos are quite common these days and often the butt of jokes to those more experienced. There should not be a need to impress or show off to anybody. Indigenous ways are based on Nature/Cosmos; thus, your name is already there, naturally. Enjoy the process; learn to develop a deeper relationship with yourself, your purpose, and how you relate to the world. Not everyone can be an “angry shimmery obsidian warrior jaguar king with jaded plumes of star serpents.” LOL.
More important than a Nahuatl name is how one carries themselves. Unfortunately, it is all too common for people in the Indigenous community (at least in Los Angeles) to dress themselves up verbally and/or visually while negating their Indigenous teachings and integrity. How one carries themselves, treats others, and the service they devote to the community is much more defining than any name. Better to have a European name and be of great Native integrity & service to the Four Circles than to perpetrate with a flowery Indigenous name while taking on the oppressive traits of the colonizer. But even way better to have both an Indigenous name AND be of good service and integrity!
Most Chican@s & so-called Latinos who identify as Mexica are most likely not of direct Mexica-Nahua lineage but are from various Indigenous Nations such as the P’urehpecha, Zapotec, Apache, Maya, etc. Mexica Identity is a Reclamation Point for us, which is fine. But I do recommend learning the languages and traditional variations of your respective nation as well. I feel this will open up options and tools for you to get in deeper touch with your Indigenous self.
More popularly known as the Aztec Calendar, an aspect of its use is to record “the passing of days.” This revolving combination of days is what I can best describe as the “vibrational creative potential & personalities of each day.” So to keep it simple for now: Each day, week, month, year, and year bundle has a certain number and glyph combo associated with a variety of deities which influence the name that can be chosen for you.
Be mindful that there is some debate about which Calendar count is the “correct” one. My personal preference is the Arturo Meza count because I have correlated it with many weather, cosmic, and personal events over the course of about 3-4 years. The Tonalpohualli count and Birthdate is an entirely different topic tho. In time, we will post content to assist with understanding and calculating one’s Tonalpohualli so that you may get a feel for what could possibly be options for your Nahuatl name.
Quite often, Elders can give you a Nahuatl name. If you vibe well, trust, and have a non-emotional confidence with an Elder and their ceremony, this would be a good way to go about getting a Nahuatl name. Albeit, this ideal route is not always an option for some people, in which case employing the Tonalpohualli and/or Self-reflection route would be ideal.
Often there are certain nicknames we acquire from our family, friends, or community that are symbolic of our personality or an aspect of it. This is very common among communities of color. Neighborhood nicknames or Hip Hop aliases are an example of our Indigenous inclinations to give deeper meaning & purpose to our lives via symbols and metaphors within a modern context. I would definitely factor this dynamic into choosing a Nahuatl name.
Don’t be in a hurry. Your Indigenous name should feel right. It took me a good 4-5 years to finally settle with a name that I knew was right. Give yourself time to develop a good relationship and understanding of the language(s), the Tonalpohualli, and how you relate to your community. Put occasional prayers down for it, but like I said before, take your time. With that suggestion, I decided to create a prayer which you can feel free to edit for yourself.
Tlazocamati Great Mystery –Relatives, Ancestors.
Tlazocamati for this moment to be awake, I come to you in a good way,
Tlazocamati for my life, health, and all my blessings..
My heart wishes to know myself better so as to be
of the best service & medicine to my family and community.
Please guide me in learning & discovering symbols- essences that are
revealing of my true self and purpose for which you have sent me.
Please reveal me to me, the symbol and words
that align me and serves as reminder of my purpose on this earth walk.
One that will keep me onmy path of self-knowledge and healing
one that will serve as guide, for service to all my relatives.
Creator, Ancestors.. guide my thoughts & actions with a strong heart & mind,
that I may know & represent this medicine you’ve gifted me to it’s fullest
I ask this in a good way.
Tlazocamati.
Ipalnemohuani (giver of life)
Just a reminder that Indigenous names are non-gender specific, poetic, and carry symbolic depth
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