Quetzal
Quetzals are strikingly colored birds in the trogon family. They are found in forests, especially in humid highlands, with the five species from the genus Pharomachrus being exclusively Neotropical, while a single species, the eared quetzal, Euptilotis neoxenus, is found in Guatemala, sometimes in Mexico and very locally in the southernmost United States.
Meaning & Origin of Quetzal
What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.
Quetzals are strikingly colored birds in the trogon family. They are found in forests, especially in humid highlands, with the five species from the genus Pharomachrus being exclusively Neotropical, while a single species, the eared quetzal, Euptilotis neoxenus, is found in Guatemala, sometimes in Mexico and very locally in the southernmost United States.
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →
Etymology
The Story of Quetzal
As a girl name
Quetzal first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a girl name in 2004, with 6 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 2006, when 8 Quetzals were born — ranking #12,420 that year. As of 2026, Quetzal ranks #15,292 for girls with 5 births, with steady use. In total, more than 89 Quetzals have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 2000s through the 2020s.
As a boy name
Quetzal first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a boy name in 2001, with 6 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 2023, when 8 Quetzals were born — ranking #8,914 that year. As of 2026, Quetzal ranks #10,889 for boys with 6 births, with steady use. In total, more than 69 Quetzals have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 2000s through the 2020s.
Popularity Over Time
Popularity by State
Names that sound like Quetzal
Phonetically similar names — useful when Quetzal is the vibe but a different syllable count or letter feel might suit better. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.
- Quetzals
- Kjetil
- Cuticle
- Cutesy
- Kuta
- Accusal
- Cuta
- Kuzel
- Cuza
- Kintzel
- Kuil
- Quittal
Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.
Frequently Asked Questions about Quetzal
What does the name Quetzal mean?
How popular is Quetzal in 2026?
When was Quetzal most popular?
In which U.S. states is Quetzal most popular?
Is Quetzal a unisex name?
What names go well with Quetzal?
About the name Quetzal
Quetzal is a unisex baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 2004 and has accumulated 89 births in the dataset. Quetzal's peak popularity came in 2006 when it ranked #12,420. Use the chart and map above to compare Quetzal's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.
Continue exploring
- Top names of 2006 →
- Names of the 2000s →
- Names starting with "Q" →
- Browse all girl names →
- Top names of 2026 →
- Browse unisex names →
Data sources
- Birth statistics (counts, ranks, years 1880–2026) — U.S. Social Security Administration . Predictions for years not yet released by SSA are computed by Peek a Name from historical trends; we update with official data as soon as it ships.
- Etymology, cultural origins, and related forms — Behind the Name (used under their public API terms).
- Meaning prose and editorial summary — Wikipedia article extracts, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 .
- Predicted nationality distribution — Nationalize.io .
- Phonetically similar names — Datamuse .
Peek a Name aggregates and presents the above data for informational purposes. Statistical predictions and external attributions are clearly labelled where shown; we make no guarantee of accuracy beyond what each source provides.