Nahualá is a municipality located in the Sololá department of Guatemala. While it is sometimes referred to as Santa Catalina Nahualá in honor of its patron saint, Saint Catherine of Alexandria, the official name of the town is simply Nahualá.
Historical records indicate that the town's name has been transcribed in various ways over time. Formerly written as Nagualá, colonial documents include several earlier variations of the name, such as Nauala, Niguala, Niuala, and Navala.