Citlali comes from Nahuatl, the language of the Aztecs, where citlalin means "star". The name is used mainly in Mexico and among Mexican American families, who often choose it to honor indigenous roots. In the United States Citlali entered the top 1000 in 2001, peaked at number 916 in 2005 and then faded, but it has been climbing again, from number 2176 in 2022 to number 1381 in 2025.