Itzel is a Mayan name, usually explained as "rainbow lady" or "rainbow goddess" after Ixchel, the Maya goddess of the moon, water and childbirth; some sources read it as "morning star". It is popular in Mexico and among Mexican American families as a name that honors indigenous heritage. Itzel has been in the US top 1000 since 2000 and reached number 328 in 2005; after a quieter stretch it stands at number 359 in 2025.