Cuauhtémoc (also spelled Cuahtémoc) is a Nahuatl name meaning “descending eagle” or “swooping eagle.” It comes from the words cuauhtli (eagle) and temo (to descend or fall). In Aztec culture, the eagle was a powerful symbol associated with strength, courage, and the sun. Cuauhtémoc was the last Aztec emperor, ruling Tenochtitlán from 1520 to 1521, and his name reflects these noble qualities.