Origin of the Name "Guatemala"

Two leading theories:

• Nahuatl (Aztec): Quauhtemallan – quauh (wood/forest) + temal (cut) + tlan (place) → "place where many trees are cut."
• K'iche' Mayan: Quauhtemalan – roots suggesting "land covered with forest" or "people of the forest."

Both point to a heavily forested landscape.