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Home › Baby Names Directory › Nayeli

Nayeli

♀ Girl

Pronounced nah-YEH-lee /nɑːˈjeɪli/High

Meaning: I love youHigh

In 30 seconds: A radiant Zapotec name from Oaxaca, Mexico, meaning 'I love you.' Nayeli is melodic, heartfelt, and deeply personal — a name that carries an act of love in every syllable and is beloved in both Mexico and the United States.
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Origin HighZapotec
MeaningI love you
U.S. rank (2025)#271 ↗ Rising
2025 U.S. births1,151 girls (0.07% of U.S. girls)
Peak year2001
Total births (all-time)≈ 24,644

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 200119772025

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

Nayeli is derived from the Zapotec language of Oaxaca, Mexico, where it means 'I love you.' Zapotec is one of the indigenous language families of Mesoamerica, spoken by the Zapotec people of the Valley of Oaxaca, whose civilisation flourished from around 700 BCE. The Zapotec developed one of the earliest writing systems in Mesoamerica at the ancient city of Monte Albán.

Nayeli became widely used in Mexico in the late 20th century and has been popularised through telenovelas and music. In the United States it has grown significantly in Hispanic communities, ranking in the top 300 for girls. Its three-syllable music and the lyrical meaning 'I love you' make it an instinctive choice for parents.

Did you know? Nayeli comes from the indigenous Zapotec language of Oaxaca, Mexico — one of the oldest and most complex language families in the Americas, with a writing system that predates the Aztec script.
Overall data confidence 88%
U.S. Social Security Administration — popularity data

Variations

NayeliNayelyNayelli

Nicknames

NayeNayYeli

Famous Bearers

  • ★Nayeli Rangel (b. 1992)
    Mexican professional footballer and defensive midfielder who represented Mexico at the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup and won two Liga MX Femenil championships with Tigres UANL (2018, 2019).

If you like Nayeli…

Citlali— indigenous Mexican name with the same Mesoamerican roots and melodic sound
Xiomara— Spanish-heritage name with the same bold, three-syllable Latin American character
Marisol— Spanish compound name with the same warm, sun-and-sea Mexican resonance
Itzel— Mayan-origin name with the same indigenous Latin American heritage and unique flair

Explore names like Nayeli

By thememelodicmexicanindigenouslovezapotec
By meaningLove

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Nayeli mean?

Nayeli means 'I love you' in Zapotec, an indigenous language of Oaxaca, Mexico.

How do you pronounce Nayeli?

It is said nah-YEH-lee /nɑːˈjeɪli/ — three syllables, stress on the second.

Is Nayeli a boy or girl name?

Nayeli is used almost exclusively as a girls' name.

How popular is Nayeli?

Nayeli has ranked in the U.S. top 300 for girls, driven by its popularity in Hispanic communities.

💬 Ask Nia