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HomeBaby Names DirectoryXela

Xela

♀ Girl

Xela Pronunciation

Xela is pronounced SHEH-lah /ˈʃɛ.lɑ/Medium

Meaning: From Xela (Xelaju), the K'iche' Maya name for Quetzaltenango, 'under/place of the ten (mountains)'; also a modern coined name; routes layeredLow

In 30 seconds: Under the ten: Xela is the K'iche' Maya name for a Guatemalan city — 'under the ten (mountains)'. Crisp, proud, and warm.
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Origin LowMaya, American
MeaningFrom Xela (Xelaju), the K'iche' Maya name for Quetzaltenango, 'under/place of the ten (mountains)'; also a modern coined name; routes layered
U.S. rank (2024)#5412 ↘ Falling
2024 U.S. births24 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)
Peak year2022
Total births (all-time)≈ 343

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

US baby name popularity trendUS births per year from 1995 to 2024. Peak in 2022 with 42 births.0214219952000202020222024peak 2022 · 42

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

History & Origin

Xela comes from Xela (Xelaju), the K'iche' Maya name for the city of Quetzaltenango, Guatemala — often glossed 'under/place of the ten' (ten mountains, or ten ruling lords; routes layered, which we note) — and it also reads as a sleek modern coined name. A crisp, proud, distinctive name (the X is said 'sh', so 'SHEH-lah').

In the U.S. it appears in Guatemalan/Maya-heritage families. Rare, under-the-ten at the root, and proud.

Did you know? Xela (Xelaju) is the K'iche' Maya name for the Guatemalan city of Quetzaltenango — 'under the ten' (ten mountains, or ten ruling lords) — a crisp, proud heritage name (the X said as 'sh', so 'SHEH-lah'); also a modern coined name.
Overall data confidence 50%
References — Xela / Xelaju — routes layered

Variations

XelajuShelaXelah

Themes & Styles

If you like Xela…

Itzel— a fellow Maya girls' name
Ixchel— a Maya goddess name
Xochitl— a fellow Indigenous-Mexican girls' name
Stella— a sound-neighbor girls' name

→ See all names like Xela

Browse the whole category: All Maya names →  ·  All American names →  ·  All origins →

Frequently Asked

How do you pronounce Xela?

Xela is pronounced SHEH-lah (/ˈʃɛ.lɑ/). Press play above to hear Xela said aloud.

How do you say Xela?

Xela is said SHEH-lah (/ˈʃɛ.lɑ/). Press play above to hear Xela said aloud.

What does the name Xela mean?

Xela is the K'iche' Maya name for Quetzaltenango, Guatemala — 'under the ten (mountains)'; the routes are layered.

Is Xela a boy or girl name?

Xela is a girl's name.

How popular is Xela?

Xela is a rare name in the U.S.

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