Chicano names
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Chicano naming practices formed out of the cultural pride that was established in the Chicano Movement.[1][3] This motivated some Chicanos to adopt Indigenous Mexican names, often Aztec (or Nahuatl) in origin, for themselves and their children, rather than Spaniard names,[1] which were first imposed onto Indigenous Mexico in the 16th century through the Spanish colonization of the Americas.[4] The other significant development in naming that emerged from the Chicano Movement was to inspire Chicanos not to anglicize their names, maintaining Spanish spellings and pronunciations.[1][3]
Prior to the Spanish colonization of Mexico, Indigenous peoples had their own naming conventions and names.[5] This was significantly altered in the 16th century, with the arrival of Spaniards and the shift in balance to Spanish power in the region.[5]
Catholic baptisms and conversion ceremonies often accompanied the practice of Christian missionaries changing Indigenous people's names to Hispanic, and especially Christian names, such as Jose, Maria, Gonzalo, Francisco, Antonio, Jesus, Ana, and Magdalena.[5][6] According to Julian Segura Camacho, this was an attempt to destroy their culture and identity.[5]
Despite this public performance, many Indigenous people's often resisted Hispanicization and maintained their traditions, even if only in their own cuallis (or homes).[5] This led to the survival of Indigenous names over hundreds of years.[5]