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Courtney

Girl / Boy name · 2,760 babies recorded · 1974–2025

Courtney began as a Norman surname, derived from a place name in northern France—the Old French *Courtney* or *Courtenay*, itself from the Latin *curtis* (court) and the suffix *-acum*, referring to a settlement linked to a lord’s court. As a given name, it found early fame through the aristocratic Courtenay family of England. Modern bearers include actress Courteney Cox, singer Courtney Love, and actor Courtney B. Vance, each bringing a different creative field to the name. The place Courtenay in British Columbia shares the same root, named after a naval officer. Unisex in usage, Courtney enjoyed particular popularity in the 1980s and 1990s for girls, while the variant **Kourtney