Holding steady.
Popularity of Cuahutemoc since 1975
Babies named Cuahutemoc per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 2001, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Cuahutemoc's real moment was 1975.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1970s | 11 |
| 1980s | 18 |
| 1990s | 36 |
| 2000s | 81 |
| 2010s | 0 |
| 2020s | 0 |
Meaning & origin
Cuahutemoc is a powerful and historically significant Nahuatl name that has been used sparingly in the United States since it first appeared in official records in 1975. According to the Social Security Administration's latest data through 2025, Cuahutemoc remains an exceptionally rare choice: it has never entered the top 1000 rankings, and the one-in-N ratio is not calculated due to its low frequency. Its peak year of recorded use was 1975, the very year it first appeared, and its trajectory over the decades has been stable at very low levels. The name draws its meaning from the Aztec emperor Cuauhtemoc (often spelled Cuahutemoc), whose story is deeply interwoven with Mexican and Indigenous heritage. Although it has not seen a significant revival or association with any particular state, it stands as a strong cultural name for families wanting to honor Mesoamerican history.
Cuauhtemoc is a Nahuatl name meaning 'falling eagle' or 'descending eagle.' It was the name of the last Huey Tlatoani (emperor) of the Aztec Empire, who ruled from 1520 to 1521 during the Spanish conquest. The name is composed of cuauhtli (eagle) and temoc (descends). Cuauhtemoc is a figure of great significance in Mexican history, symbolizing resistance and indigenous pride.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Temo, Cuau
Variants: Cuauhtémoc, Cuauhtemoc, Guatemoc
Sibling names for Cuahutemoc
Names that share Cuahutemoc's style, for a brother or sister.
