Huayna

Huayna is a Quechua term meaning "young" or "youth," often used as a descriptive element in names and place names across the Andean region, especially in Peru and Bolivia. In Inca history the word appears in the name of the late 15th–early 16th century Sapa Inca Huayna Capac (also Wayna Qhapaq), who expanded the empire and died around 1525, an event that contributed to a civil war between his sons Huáscar and Atahualpa.

Geographic uses of Huayna are common. Huayna Picchu is a famous mountain that rises above the citadel of Machu Picchu in Peru. The peak reaches about 2,720 meters (8,920 feet) above sea level and is a well-known feature of the Machu Picchu site, often visited by hikers.

Another notable geographic use is Huayna Potosí, a mountain in the Bolivian Andes near La Paz. It stands at about 6,088 meters in elevation and is a popular objective for climbers seeking high-altitude ascent.

Today, Huayna remains in use as a given name within Andean communities and among people of Quechua heritage. It also appears in various compound toponyms and personal names, reflecting the color and vitality associated with the term.