At a glance
- U.S. rank 2025 (girls)
- Not in the 2025 data · last seen 2022 (#15,306)
- Babies in 2022 (girls)
- 5 (<0.01% of girls)
- As a boy name
- Last recorded 2024 (#10,938)Peak #8,921 in 2023
- Peak (girls)
- #11,146 in 2021
- First recorded
- 2001 (as a boy name; 2004 as a girl name)
Meaning of Quetzal
Quetzal is a warm, unisex name of Nahuatl origin that sparks images of bright green feathers dancing in the sky. Pronounced keh-TSAHL in Spanish, it comes from quetzalli, meaning “precious plume,” and evokes the resplendent bird revered by the Maya and Aztecs. Tied to the feathered serpent deity Quetzalcoatl, it whispers freedom, wisdom and renewal. Though it’s rare—just five to eight babies each year since 2020, near the 940th spot in US charts—it’s on the rise. It’s perfect for parents seeking a touch of Latin heritage and a dash of inspiration, setting their child apart like a vibrant feather in a sunlit breeze. Kids might even joke they were named after a superhero bird.
How to pronounce Quetzal
Spanish
- Pronounced keh-TSAHL /ke.ˈtsal/
Popularity of Quetzal in the U.S.
Quetzal was last recorded in the U.S. in 2022, ranked #15,306 with 5 babies. It peaked at #11,146 in 2021. It first appears in the records in 2001, as a boy name, and was last recorded as one in 2024, at #10,938.
- Rank among U.S. girl names (right scale, #1 at the top)
Girls year by year, 2004–2022 14 rows
| Year | Babies | Rank | vs previous year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 5 | 15,306 | ▼ 4,160 |
| 2021 | 8 | 11,146 | ▲ 2,307 |
| 2020 | 6 | 13,453 | back (not recorded in 2019) |
| 2018 | 6 | 13,793 | back (not recorded in 2016–2017) |
| 2015 | 6 | 14,482 | ▼ 1,413 |
| 2014 | 7 | 13,069 | ▲ 81 |
| 2013 | 7 | 13,150 | ▲ 3,719 |
| 2012 | 5 | 16,869 | ▼ 105 |
| 2011 | 5 | 16,764 | ▼ 4,488 |
| 2010 | 8 | 12,276 | back (not recorded in 2009) |
| 2008 | 5 | 17,504 | ▼ 3,580 |
| 2007 | 7 | 13,924 | ▼ 1,504 |
| 2006 | 8 | 12,420 | back (not recorded in 2005) |
| 2004 | 6 | 14,179 | new |
Boys year by year, 2001–2024 12 rows
| Year | Babies | Rank | vs previous year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 6 | 10,938 | ▼ 2,017 |
| 2023 | 8 | 8,921 | back (not recorded in 2020–2022) |
| 2019 | 5 | 12,145 | back (not recorded in 2018) |
| 2017 | 5 | 12,246 | ▼ 61 |
| 2016 | 5 | 12,185 | back (not recorded in 2011–2015) |
| 2010 | 5 | 12,231 | ▼ 2,367 |
| 2009 | 7 | 9,864 | back (not recorded in 2008) |
| 2007 | 6 | 10,921 | ▲ 1,134 |
| 2006 | 5 | 12,055 | back (not recorded in 2005) |
| 2004 | 5 | 11,356 | ▼ 1,775 |
| 2003 | 6 | 9,581 | back (not recorded in 2002) |
| 2001 | 6 | 9,243 | new |
Notable people named Quetzal
- Quetzal Guerrero is an American Latin soul singer and classically trained violinist who also plays guitar and percussion.