The Mexica had a complex tradition of naming, and the naming of a child was a major event in the life of the family and the calpulli. The Mexica believed that the name of a person was closely connected to their destiny, and the name was chosen to honor the day sign of the child’s birth. The naming was performed by the midwife, who consulted the Tonalpohualli and gave the child a name that was appropriate to the day sign.
The Day Sign and the Personal Name
The Mexica naming tradition was based on the Tonalpohualli, the 260-day ritual calendar, which was divided into 20 periods of 13 days each, each associated with one of the 20 day signs. The day sign of a child’s birth was believed to determine much of the child’s destiny, including the child’s character, the child’s fortune, and the rituals required to protect the child.
The Mexica had a set of names for each day sign, and the midwife would select an appropriate name from the set associated with the day sign. The names were often descriptive of the qualities associated with the day sign, and they were believed to shape the character of the child. The Mexica also used the day sign in the formation of the personal name, and the day sign was often included as a part of the name.
The Naming Ceremony
The naming ceremony was performed by the midwife, and it typically took place a few days after the birth. The ceremony was a public event, and it was attended by the family and the calpulli. The midwife would announce the name of the child, and she would explain the meaning of the name and the day sign of the birth. The midwife would also perform a series of rituals to protect the child and to ensure the favor of the gods.
The naming ceremony was an important event in the life of the family, and it was the occasion for feasting, for the giving of gifts, and for the reaffirmation of the social and religious bonds. The naming ceremony was also a public event, and it was a way of introducing the child to the calpulli and to the gods. The Mexica believed that the naming ceremony was essential for the well-being of the child, and they performed the ceremony with great care and attention.
The Personal Tonalli
The Mexica believed that each person had a personal tonalli, a portion of the divine force that resided in the person and that was associated with the day sign of the birth. The tonalli was believed to determine the character of the person, and it required personal attention and care. The Mexica prayed to their tonalli at the beginning of each day, and they observed the days of the calendar that were sacred to their personal day sign.
The tonalli was also believed to be vulnerable to the influence of evil spirits and to the malevolence of witches, and the Mexica performed a series of protective rituals to safeguard the tonalli. The Mexica believed that the proper care of the tonalli was essential for the well-being of the person, and they performed a wide range of rituals to ensure the protection of the tonalli.
The Surnames
The Mexica did not have a system of surnames in the modern sense, but they had a system of family names that was used to identify the lineage of the person. The family name was typically the name of the calpulli or the place of origin, and it was used to identify the social and political affiliations of the person. The Mexica also used a system of nicknames and titles, and they often used a combination of the personal name, the family name, and the title to identify a person.
The system of naming in Mexica society was complex and flexible, and it allowed for the identification of the person in a variety of ways. The Mexica were also known to change their names at important moments in their lives, particularly when marriage, when the birth of a child, and when the assumption of an important office.
Related Articles
- Family Life and Childhood in the Aztec World — the broader context
- What was childhood like in Aztec society? — the stages
- What was the role of midwives in Aztec births? — the ticitl
- The Aztec Calendar and Timekeeping — the calendar
- Aztec Rituals, Festivals, and Ceremonies — the religious life
- Aztec Society and Daily Life — the broader context