Name profile

Boy/GirlPronounced American English /ˈkɔɹt.ni/; British English /ˈkɔːt.ni/

Courtney

This name comes from the aristocratic English surname Courtney, which was derived either from the French place name Courtenay or else from a Norman nickname meaning "short nose".

Quick answer

Courtney is a boy/girl name.

Pronunciation: American English /ˈkɔɹt.ni/; British English /ˈkɔːt.ni/.

GenderBoy/Girl
PronunciationAmerican English /ˈkɔɹt.ni/; British English /ˈkɔːt.ni/

Meaning and history

This name comes from the aristocratic English surname Courtney, which was derived either from the French place name Courtenay (originally a derivative of the personal name Curtenus, itself derived from Latin curtus "short") or else from a Norman nickname meaning "short nose". Originally an uncommon unisex name in America, it became more popular for girls in the mid-1960s. It began rapidly increasing after 1973, possibly due to a character (played by Natalie Wood) in the television movie The Affair. It reached an apex in the United States ranked 17th in 1990, though it has quickly fallen away since then.

Notes and context

Usage: english