UK name, mostly girls
Cortney
A feminine name of French origin meaning "courteous, polite, or well-mannered".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2011. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Cortney is mostly registered for girls in the UK records. People looking for Cortney popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2011 in this profile. In that release it ranked #5785, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 1997, with 20 births.
This profile covers 154 England and Wales registrations across 16 recorded years from 1996 to 2011. The figures come from ONS England and Wales and NISRA Northern Ireland, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.
The latest count is about 15% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 156 living people in the UK are called Cortney. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2012 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Cortney ranked #5785 for girls in England and Wales in 2011, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 1997, when 20 girls were registered as Cortney.
- • Cortney ranks best in Northern Ireland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #358 in 1997.
- • About 156 living people in the UK are estimated to have Cortney as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
- • Across the England and Wales records shown here, 98.1% of Cortney registrations are for girls.
Latest rank (E&W)
#5785
2011
Births in 2011
3
Latest year
Peak year
1997
20 births
Estimated living
156
2026
Gender
Boy and girl registrations for Cortney
In England and Wales birth records, Cortney has been registered for both boys and girls. Across the years shown here, 1.9% of registrations are for boys and 98.1% are for girls.
These figures use the sex categories in the published baby-name files. They are useful for spotting how the name is used at registration, but they are not a live measure of gender identity or everyone living with the name today.
Cortney registered for boys
- Ranked #2,863 in 1996
- 3 boys registered in 1996
- Peak: 1996 (3 births)
Cortney registered for girls
- Ranked #5,785 in 2011
- 3 girls registered in 2011
- Peak: 1997 (20 births)
Meaning
What does Cortney mean?
The name Cortney is an English variant of the French name Courtney, which is derived from the Old French word "court," meaning "courtly" or "from the court." The name gained popularity during the Middle Ages, particularly in England and France, where it was often associated with aristocratic families and those closely linked to royal courts.
The earliest recorded use of the name Cortney can be traced back to the 12th century in England. One of the earliest known bearers of the name was Reginald de Courtenay, a prominent nobleman and crusader who lived during the reign of King Richard I of England in the late 12th century. The Courtenay family played a significant role in English history, with several members holding influential positions in the government and church.
Another notable figure with the name Cortney was Peter Courtney, an English clergyman who served as the Bishop of Exeter from 1478 to 1487. He was known for his involvement in the Wars of the Roses and his support for the House of Lancaster during the conflict.
In the 16th century, the name Cortney gained further prominence with the birth of Sir William Courtenay (1553-1630), an English courtier and politician who served as a Member of Parliament and held various positions at the court of Queen Elizabeth I.
During the 17th century, the name Cortney was associated with several notable writers and artists. One example is William Courtney (1642-1677), an English poet and playwright who was a contemporary of John Dryden and is known for his satirical works.
In more recent history, Courtney Cox (born 1964) is a well-known American actress best known for her role as Monica Geller in the popular sitcom "Friends." Additionally, Courtney Love (born 1964) is an American singer-songwriter and actress who gained fame as the frontwoman of the rock band Hole and for her turbulent personal life.
While the name Cortney has evolved over time, its roots can be traced back to the Old French word "court," reflecting its historical association with nobility and courtly life. The name has been borne by various notable figures throughout history, spanning different fields and eras, further contributing to its enduring popularity and cultural significance.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Cortney over time
The chart below compares boys and girls registered as Cortney in England and Wales, from 1996 to 2011. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Cortney, the clearest high point is 1997. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2011, compared with 20 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Cortney by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Cortney was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.
| Decade | Average rank | Total births | Years covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | #4659 | 9 | 2 |
| 2000s | #2190 | 96 | 10 |
| 1990s | #1555 | 49 | 4 |
Geography
Where Cortney is most common
The bars show the latest published local birth counts for Cortney. They are useful for spotting where the name is showing up in real numbers, while the rank beside each bar shows how strongly it performs inside that region.
Cortney ranks best in Northern Ireland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #358 in 1997.
Across the UK
Cortney in Scotland and Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland (NISRA)
#358 in 1997
1 years of NISRA records, 3 total registered
Related
Names similar to Cortney
- Chloe 111,265
- Charlotte 88,733
- Caitlin 28,931
- Courtney 23,162
- Chelsea 13,049
- Clara 9,435
- Connie 8,402
- Catherine 8,376
- Charlie 7,964
- Cerys 7,506
- Casey 7,018
- Cara 6,375
FAQ
Cortney: questions and answers
How popular is the name Cortney in the UK right now?
In 2011, Cortney was ranked #5785 for girls in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Cortney most popular?
The peak year on record was 1997, with 20 babies registered as Cortney in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Cortney?
A feminine name of French origin meaning "courteous, polite, or well-mannered".
How many people are called Cortney in the UK?
A total of 154 babies have been registered as Cortney across the 16 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here and 3 in Northern Ireland.
Where is Cortney most common?
In the latest published local rankings, Cortney ranks best in Northern Ireland, where it placed #358 in 1997. The regional bars on this page use birth counts, so they also reflect the size of each region.
Which records is this page based on?
The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.