What does the 13 in MS-13 mean?

The number 13 is an homage to the Los Angeles gang "Los Emes" or "The Ms" (M being the thirteenth letter of the alphabet).

The number 13 is homage to the Los Angeles gang "Los Emes" or "The Ms"(M being the thirteenth letter of the alphabet). The gang was set up in Los Angeles in 1980's by Salvadoran immigrants in the city's Pico-Union neighborhood. The majority of the gang is ethnically composed of Salvadorans, Hondurans, Guatemalans, and Nicaraguans. Their activities have caught the eye of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), who in September 2005 initiated wide-scale raids against suspected gang members, netting 660 arrests across United States. ICE efforts were at first directed towards MS-13, in its Operation Community Shield. In May 2005, ICE expanded Operation Community Shield to include all transnational organized crime groups and prison gangs. ICE's Operation Community Shield has since arrested 7,655 street gang members.

https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Mara%20Salvatrucha

I know many a Mara Salvatrucha. Yes. I do.

The 13 is significant of Life and Death and NOT the 13th letter of the alphabet.

The Los Emes took the letter "M" as their name BECAUSE it IS the 13th letter and signified the Life and Death aspect of their By Laws and Credo.


Here is a more realistic view of MS 13: (who give "another" aspect or reason behind the name)

http://www.insightcrime.org/news-analysis/6-common-misconceptions-ms13-gang

Salvadoreños, some have noted, join whatever set {X4}{X3} they want, but the gang Mara Salvatrucha 13 (MS-13) is sureña identified since it was founded in Pico Union LA, thus the 13 identifier after MS. However, MS 13 never wears red and does not align themselves with Mexican Mafia - which is the founder of 13 sur, and are sworn enemies of the biggest LA gangs 18th Street as well as the oldest East LA gang White Fence.

http://www.insightcrime.org/el-salvador-organized-crime-news/mara-salvatrucha-ms-13-profile