The first name Courtenay
A unisex name meaning “short”.
3 syllables Unisex
Meaning and origin
Courtenay means “short”.
From Latin Curtenus, from curtus (“short”), via Norman.
From Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Popularity
Babies registered in England and Wales, 1996–2025
Courtenay last appeared in the official list in 2007, given to 3 girls. It peaked in 1998, with 19 births (#1,076).
Office for National Statistics; years with fewer than three births are not published and show as zero. Compare Courtenay with other names.
Popularity in the United States
Babies named Courtenay at birth, 1880–2025
In 2005, 5 girls born in the United States were named Courtenay, the 17,075th most popular girls’ name that year. It was used most in 1966, when 67 were.
US Social Security Administration, from applications for a Social Security card. A name is only published for a year when at least five babies were given it, so quieter years show as zero.
Famous people named Courtenay
4 on Wikidata, most written-about first
- Courtenay TaylorActress, born 1969
- John Edward Courtenay BodleyBritish writer (1853–1925)
- Courtenay FooteBritish actor, 1878–1925
- R. V. C. BodleyBritish Army officer (1892-1970)
Questions
- What does the name Courtenay mean?
- Courtenay means “short”.
- How popular is the name Courtenay?
- In 2007, 3 girls born in England and Wales were named Courtenay, ranking 5,201st. Its peak was 1998, with 19 births.
- Is Courtenay a boy's or a girl's name?
- Both. Of the 1,435 US babies named Courtenay since 1880, 83% were girls and 17% boys.
- When was Courtenay most popular?
- 1966 in the United States, when 67 babies were named Courtenay, its highest rank at 1,324th.