Mexico City derives from 'Mēxihco' in Nahuatl, the language of the Aztecs. The name referred to the Aztec capital Tenochtitlán, built on an island in Lake Texcoco. Scholars debate its meaning: one interpretation translates it as 'place in the navel of the moon', while another links it to the Aztec god Mextli or a Nahuatl word for 'spring of the Mexica'.
| Country | Mexico |
| Region | 09 |
| Population | 12,294,193 |
| Language of origin | Nahuatl |
| Type of name | Indigenous language |
Etymology & History
Mexico City is a pplc located in 09, Mexico. With a population of approximately 12,294,193, it is one of many communities whose name tells a story about the region's past.
Understanding why places are named as they are gives us a window into history — the languages spoken, the people honoured, the landscapes encountered and the cultures that shaped the world we live in today. The field of toponymy (the study of place names) reveals that almost every name has a meaning, even when that meaning has been obscured by centuries of linguistic change.