Themselves Aztecs called themselves "Mechin" or "tenochka" and "atlaltelolka" - depending on the city of origin (Tenochtitlan, Tlatelolco). As to the origin of the word "Mexica» (mexica. From which, in fact, is the word "Mexico"), it expressed a very different version of its etymology: the word "Sun" in Nahuatl, the Aztec name of the leader Meshitli (Meksitli, Mekshitli) - type of algae grows in lake Texcoco. The most famous translator of Nahuatl Miguel Leon-Portilla, says that the word means "middle of the Moon." Self-name "tenochki" possibly comes from the name Tenocha - another legendary leader.