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Xela
How to Pronounce Xela
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
Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data
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
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.
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Frequently Asked
What does the name Xela mean?
Xela is the K'iche' Maya name for Quetzaltenango, Guatemala — 'under the ten (mountains)'; the routes are layered.
How do you pronounce Xela?
It's said SHEH-lah /ˈʃɛ.lɑ/ — two syllables, stress on the first (the X is 'sh').
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.