Fun Facts About the Name Citlali
- More than 4 thousand babies named Citlali: U.S. records list 4,517 babies given the name Citlali from 1880 through 2025.
What Does the Name Citlali Mean?
Citlali (also spelled Citlalli) is a Nahuatl name meaning "star." It comes from the Nahuatl noun citlalli, formed from the stem citlal- plus the absolutive ending -li that marks many Nahuatl nouns. Nahuatl is the Uto-Aztecan language of the Nahua peoples of central Mexico and the language of the Aztec state. The same word for "star" appears in other Nahua names and place names, including the deity name Citlalicue ("star skirt") and the volcano Citlaltépetl ("star mountain"), which combine citlalli with other elements. The literal meaning is simply "star"; later poetic or symbolic readings of stars as guides or destiny are interpretations added to the word, not part of its etymology.
Citlali Name History & Origins
Before the Spanish conquest, Nahuatl was written in pictographic and rebus-style script; after the conquest, friars and Indigenous scribes began writing the language with the Latin alphabet, and the word citlalli ("star") appears in that colonial-era alphabetic Nahuatl writing. Modern spellings such as Citlali follow this Spanish-based orthography, in which the letters generally keep the values assigned to them for Nahuatl, so the name is spelled much as the earlier word was written. It is distinct from Citlalicue, the name of a Nahua deity, which is a compound rather than the bare noun for "star."
As a personal name, Citlali is used chiefly in Mexico and in Mexican-American communities, usually as a feminine given name. It belongs to a group of given names drawn from Nahuatl vocabulary, alongside names such as Xóchitl ("flower") and Itzel, rather than to the Spanish-derived names that are more common in Mexican naming. Choosing such a name reflects an interest in Indigenous Mexican language and heritage.
How Popular is the Name Citlali?
Citlali recorded its highest annual U.S. birth count in 2005. Its best rank was #916 in 2005.
U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #1,381 | 159 | 0.0099% |
| 2024 | #1,586 | 132 | 0.0082% |
| 2023 | #1,637 | 127 | 0.0079% |
| 2022 | #2,175 | 87 | 0.0053% |
| 2021 | #2,071 | 92 | 0.0056% |
| 2020 | #2,136 | 85 | 0.0053% |
| 2019 | #2,092 | 90 | 0.0054% |
| 2018 | #2,407 | 75 | 0.0044% |
| 2017 | #2,187 | 87 | 0.0050% |
| 2016 | #1,819 | 114 | 0.0064% |
| 2015 | #2,094 | 93 | 0.0052% |
| 2014 | #1,654 | 129 | 0.0072% |
| 2013 | #1,697 | 123 | 0.0070% |
| 2012 | #1,654 | 129 | 0.0073% |
| 2011 | #1,506 | 148 | 0.0084% |
| 2010 | #1,313 | 179 | 0.0101% |
| 2009 | #1,274 | 191 | 0.0104% |
| 2008 | #1,189 | 214 | 0.0113% |
| 2007 | #1,064 | 246 | 0.0128% |
| 2006 | #962 | 272 | 0.0143% |
| 2005 | #916 | 272 | 0.0147% |
| 2004 | #958 | 250 | 0.0136% |
| 2003 | #967 | 240 | 0.0131% |
| 2002 | #962 | 231 | 0.0129% |
| 2001 | #956 | 230 | 0.0128% |
| 2000 | #1,257 | 156 | 0.0086% |
| 1999 | #1,561 | 108 | 0.0061% |
| 1998 | #2,469 | 56 | 0.0032% |
| 1997 | #2,833 | 43 | 0.0025% |
| 1996 | #4,207 | 25 | 0.0014% |
| 1995 | #3,602 | 30 | 0.0017% |
| 1994 | #5,294 | 18 | 0.0010% |
| 1993 | #7,114 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 1992 | #5,093 | 19 | 0.0010% |
| 1991 | #6,675 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 1990 | #11,708 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1989 | #8,182 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1988 | #9,466 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1987 | #11,655 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1983 | #10,587 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1980 | #10,702 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1979 | #10,493 | 5 | 0.0003% |
Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.
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How the Name Citlali Shapes Your Personality and Life?
You are cheerful and friendly, but are apt to have an emotional life. You like to have several lines of effort going at once. You are a good talker and promoter and seldom worry over anything. At times, you can be impatient, and impulsive. You have the ability to bring an idea to completion. You can express yourself joyously and constructively. You might be psychic, but not know it. You are intuitive and might be interested in the arts, drama or science.
Creative and outgoing, you are always looking for an opportunity to show your abilities, especially before audience. You are very flexible and like to feel appreciated. You are looking for chances to mix with others socially and to communicate your ideas. You like to talk and can easily relate to different cultures and concepts. The biggest challenge for you is uncertainty. Easily getting bored, you can move from one job to another, switch projects and lovers. The high creative force can lead you either to happiness or unhappiness. If you understand your goals, if you can make major decisions in life and follow it directly and straight up without worry and uncertainty, you are able to achieve great heights.
✦ Citlali's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Citlali's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.