Xoc

♀ Girl

How to Pronounce Xoc

Pronounced SHOHK

Meaning: count; shark — also the name of a revered Classic Maya queen

In 30 seconds: A Classic Maya name meaning 'shark' (or more broadly 'fish') — made famous by Lady K'ab'al Xook of Yaxchilán, one of the most documented women in all pre-Columbian Mesoamerican history.

💕 Browse more names

Origin Maya

Meaningcount; shark — also the name of a revered Classic Maya queen

History & Origin

Xoc (pronounced SHOKE; the x in Yucatec Maya = sh) means 'shark' in Classic Maya epigraphy, more broadly encompassing large aquatic predators. Lady K'ab'al Xook held her position as principal wife of King Itzamnaaj Bahlam III at Yaxchilán on the Usumacinta River (modern Chiapas, Mexico) from October 681 CE until her death in April 749 CE. Described in inscriptions as 'female autocrat,' she apparently commissioned three carved limestone lintels for Structure 23's doorways — an exceptionally rare act of female artistic patronage in the Classic Maya world. Lintel 24 shows her threading an obsidian-thorn rope through her pierced tongue over a blood-offering basket; Lintel 25 depicts the Vision Serpent rising from that offering; Lintel 26 shows her investing the king with his battle regalia. All three are now in the British Museum.

Did you know? Lady Xook commissioned three limestone lintels at Yaxchilán (c.725 CE) depicting her bloodletting rituals — they are now in the British Museum and represent the earliest and most detailed visual narrative of a named woman's ritual life in the Maya world.

Wikipedia — Lady Xoc — Primary reference documenting etymology, dates, 'female autocrat' title, and the three lintelsSmarthistory — Maya: The Yaxchilán Lintels — Scholarly art history analysis of Lintels 24, 25, and 26 and their ritual significanceBritish Museum Collection — Yaxchilán Lintel — Official British Museum record of the Yaxchilán lintel in permanent collection

Variations

—

Nicknames

—

Famous Bearers

Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Xoc…

Balam— 'Jaguar' in Yucatec Maya — the most powerful land animal in Mesoamerica, a spiritual counterpart to the shark in Classic Maya tradition

Chaac— The Maya rain deity — one of the most enduring Classic Maya divine names from the same cultural world

Itzamna— The supreme creator deity of Yucatec Maya belief — the highest divine name from Lady Xook's own religious tradition

Canek— An Itza Maya name from the same Maya tradition, combining sky and darkness imagery

Explore names like Xoc

By themequeen

By meaningRoyal / Noble

All themes →All meanings →All origins →

Frequently Asked

What does Xoc mean?

'Shark' in Classic Maya — and more broadly 'large aquatic predator' or 'fish.' The full name K'ab'al Xook is read Lady Shark by epigraphers.

How do you pronounce Xoc?

SHOKE — rhymes with 'smoke.' In Yucatec and Classic Maya, the letter x represents the 'sh' sound [ʃ]; the full name Ix K'ab'al Xook is pronounced roughly 'eesh KAH-bahl SHOKE.'

Who was Lady Xoc?

K'ab'al Xook was the principal wife of King Itzamnaaj Bahlam III of Yaxchilán (modern Chiapas). She held her position from 681–749 CE and was described in inscriptions as 'female autocrat' — one of the most powerful women documented in the Classic Maya world.

Where are the Yaxchilán lintels today?

All three lintels from Structure 23 at Yaxchilán are in the permanent collection of the British Museum, London. Lintel 24 is among the most frequently reproduced works in Maya art scholarship.