The custom of the Nephites to "call their lands . . . after the name of him who first possessed them" (Alma 8:7) seems to have a correlation with customs in Mesoamerica. According to Hunter and Ferguson, in Mesoamerica each kingdom or province kept the name, according as to who was the lord or king who first settled it, as can be seen in the lands, kingdoms, and provinces of the Tultecas, which were generally called Tullan, because the first king they had was so called. Further, the foregoing custom conforms to ancient Hebrew-Arabic practice in the Near East. [Milton R. Hunter and Thomas S. Ferguson, Ancient America and The Book of Mormon, p. 153]
“After the Name of Him Who First Possessed Them”
According to Joseph Allen, the "ha" ending is common both in the Maya language and in proper names and cities in the Book of Mormon. For example, the names of Nephi(hah), Moroni(hah), and Ammoni(hah) all display the "ha" sound. Compare these names with Maya place names such as Xel(ha), Balam(ha), Altun(ha), Pulsi(ha), etc. Apparently, the "ha" ending performs the same function as the Hebrew word "Beth" and the Aztec word "Tenango"--that is, "house of," "near to," or "place of." The "ha" ending in the Maya language of the Yucatan today means water. Hence, the word Balam-ha means the water or well of the tiger. It also may refer to a person of that name. This ha/water concept makes an interesting correlation with the "hah" ending of proper names in the Book of Mormon. The analogy in words such as Nephihah or Moronihah may mean "from the waters of Nephi" or "from the waters of Moroni," such as in the term, "from the loins of Judah." As a mother gives birth to a baby, her water breaks. [Joseph L. Allen, Exploring the Lands of the Book of Mormon, p. 37]
Question* Does the name "Ammon" in "Ammon-ihah have any significance to the stories which take place at this location? Is the name "Ammonihah" Mulekite? Geographically, the city of Ammonihah would be far enough away in a northward direction from the local land of Zarahemla to have retained some of the culture of the people of Zarahemla. In Mosiah 7:3 we find that the person who was sent to inquire concerning the people of Zeniff who had gone up to the land of Nephi was named Ammon, and he was "a descendant of Zarahemla." Could these people be Mulekite descendants with a high degree of the blood of Judah? Is there a cultural connection or message here in the name Ammon-ihah? [Alan C. Miner, Personal Notes][See the commentary on Alma 4:18; Mosiah 7-8]