Courtney
Variant of Courtenay, an aristocratic Norman surname derived from place names in Normandy, from Latin Curtenus, a personal name from curtus (“short”).
Every Courtney since 1881 — 281,432 of them. Popularity, births, and rankings for each year, from official Social Security records.
The story of Courtney
Courtney is rare for girls in the United States, ranked #2,335 in 2025 with 78 babies given the name. It is currently declining compared with a decade ago.
Since 1881, 281,432 American babies have been named Courtney — about 92% girls and 8% boys, making it a genuinely unisex name. Its peak came in 1990, when 16,055 newborns received the name — the signature sound of the 1990s.
The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Courtney stood among all girls' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.
Courtney year by year
Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.
| Year | Girls | Girls rank | Boys | Boys rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 78 | #2,335 | 38 | #3,141 |
| 2024 | 99 | #1,983 | 38 | #3,174 |
| 2023 | 105 | #1,891 | 38 | #3,187 |
| 2022 | 121 | #1,721 | 57 | #2,444 |
| 2021 | 123 | #1,684 | 54 | #2,470 |
| 2020 | 157 | #1,392 | 62 | #2,214 |
| 2019 | 190 | #1,234 | 52 | #2,531 |
| 2018 | 202 | #1,187 | 77 | #1,924 |
| 2017 | 277 | #954 | 82 | #1,821 |
| 2016 | 349 | #822 | 110 | #1,524 |
| 2015 | 374 | #754 | 111 | #1,496 |
| 2014 | 419 | #679 | 132 | #1,323 |
| 2013 | 558 | #534 | 123 | #1,370 |
| 2012 | 639 | #481 | 137 | #1,280 |
| 2011 | 753 | #418 | 129 | #1,321 |
| 2010 | 900 | #354 | 126 | #1,350 |
| 2009 | 1,062 | #308 | 137 | #1,282 |
| 2008 | 1,268 | #270 | 147 | #1,199 |
| 2007 | 1,514 | #233 | 155 | #1,149 |
| 2006 | 1,835 | #191 | 169 | #1,060 |
| 2005 | 2,195 | #157 | 141 | #1,144 |
| 2004 | 2,763 | #121 | 143 | #1,103 |
| 2003 | 3,348 | #103 | 135 | #1,126 |
| 2002 | 3,580 | #88 | 143 | #1,062 |
| 2001 | 4,175 | #73 | 175 | #897 |
| 2000 | 5,239 | #59 | 185 | #860 |
| 1995 | 12,775 | #17 | 275 | #621 |
| 1990 | 15,380 | #17 | 675 | #357 |
| 1985 | 7,531 | #43 | 731 | #281 |
| 1980 | 5,618 | #48 | 860 | #256 |
| 1975 | 2,775 | #102 | 409 | #386 |
| 1970 | 783 | #334 | 209 | #560 |
| 1965 | 252 | #613 | 184 | #560 |
| 1960 | 62 | #1,394 | 116 | #723 |
| 1955 | 48 | #1,466 | 74 | #857 |
| 1950 | 38 | #1,502 | 64 | #854 |
| 1945 | 29 | #1,521 | 73 | #712 |
| 1940 | 16 | #2,048 | 35 | #1,110 |
| 1935 | 8 | #3,211 | 43 | #969 |
| 1930 | 14 | #2,333 | 38 | #1,136 |
| 1925 | 13 | #2,645 | 50 | #960 |
| 1920 | 22 | #1,829 | 48 | #991 |
| 1915 | 11 | #2,572 | 44 | #942 |
| 1910 | 8 | #1,807 | 11 | #993 |
| 1905 | 11 | #1,177 | — | — |
| 1900 | 10 | #1,246 | 10 | #854 |
| 1895 | 8 | #1,216 | 7 | #897 |
| 1890 | 6 | #1,242 | — | — |
| 1885 | 8 | #800 | 5 | #970 |
| 1880 | — | — | — | — |
Famous people named Courtney
- Courtney Love Singer · b. 1964
- Courtney Hodges Military personnel · 1887–1966
- Courtney Thorne-Smith Actor · b. 1967
- Courtney B. Vance Actor · b. 1960
- Courtney Eaton Actor · b. 1996
Ranked by global fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Courtney mean?
Variant of Courtenay, an aristocratic Norman surname derived from place names in Normandy, from Latin Curtenus, a personal name from curtus (“short”).
How popular is the name Courtney in 2025?
Courtney ranked #2,335 among girls' names in the United States in 2025, with 78 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
How many people are named Courtney?
281,432 babies have been named Courtney in the United States since 1881, based on Social Security card applications.
When was the name Courtney most popular?
Courtney peaked in 1990, when 16,055 newborns received the name.
Is Courtney a boy or girl name?
Courtney is used for both: about 92% of babies named Courtney have been girls and 8% boys.
Is the name Courtney rising or falling?
Courtney is declining — less popular now than a decade ago.
Who are famous people named Courtney?
Well-known people named Courtney include Courtney Love (singer), Courtney Hodges (military personnel), Courtney Thorne-Smith (actor).