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Home › Baby Names Directory › Ketzaly

Ketzaly

♀ Girl

Pronounced ket-SAH-lee /kɛtˈsɑ.li/High

Meaning: Precious feather; K-spelled variant of Quetzali/Quetzalli, from Nahuatl quetzalli, the emerald quetzal plumeHigh

In 30 seconds: The Aztec treasure-feather, spelled with a K: Ketzaly renders Quetzali — the quetzal's emerald plume that meant 'treasure' itself — in a form some Mexican families prefer. Heritage in iridescent green.
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Origin HighNahuatl, Mexican
MeaningPrecious feather; K-spelled variant of Quetzali/Quetzalli, from Nahuatl quetzalli, the emerald quetzal plume
U.S. rank (2025)#4303 ↘ Falling
2025 U.S. births33 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)
Peak year2023
Total births (all-time)≈ 336

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 202320032025

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Ketzaly is a K-spelled variant of Quetzali/Quetzalli — Nahuatl quetzalli, the long green tail feather of the resplendent quetzal, the Aztec word for treasure and a tender term for a child. The K reflects a modern Mexican spelling preference within the Indigenous-revival wave.

It registers thinly in U.S. records, proudly Mexican. Rare, feathered, and treasure-rooted.

Did you know? The quetzal's tail feathers were currency and crown in the Aztec world — worth more than gold — and the word quetzalli came to mean anything precious, including a beloved child.
Overall data confidence 82%
Nahuatl dictionary (Wired Humanities / IDIEZ) — quetzalli — word meaning

Variations

QuetzaliQuetzalliKetzali

Nicknames

KetziZaly

Famous Bearers

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If you like Ketzaly…

Quetzali— the standard spelling of the same feather
Citlali— the Nahuatl 'star' companion
Xitlaly— the X-spelled star-sister
Itzel— the Maya-derived heritage favorite

Explore names like Ketzaly

By themeheritagenaturemexicannahuatl
By meaningJewel / Gem

All themes →All meanings →All origins →

Frequently Asked

What does the name Ketzaly mean?

Ketzaly is a variant of Quetzali, from Nahuatl quetzalli, 'precious feather' — the quetzal's emerald plume.

How do you pronounce Ketzaly?

It's said ket-SAH-lee /kɛtˈsɑ.li/ — three syllables, stress on the second.

Is Ketzaly a boy or girl name?

Ketzaly is a girl's name.

How popular is Ketzaly?

Ketzaly is a rare name in the U.S., chosen by families honoring Mexican heritage.

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