UK name, mostly girls
Courtenay
A feminine name of Anglo-Norman French origins, possibly derived from the French place name.
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2007. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Courtenay is mostly registered for girls in the UK records. People looking for Courtenay popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2007 in this profile. In that release it ranked #5201, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 1998, with 19 births.
This profile covers 89 England and Wales registrations across 10 recorded years from 1996 to 2007. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, 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 16% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 88 living people in the UK are called Courtenay. 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 2008 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Courtenay ranked #5201 for girls in England and Wales in 2007, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 1998, when 19 girls were registered as Courtenay.
- • About 88 living people in the UK are estimated to have Courtenay as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
- • Across the England and Wales records shown here, 94.7% of Courtenay registrations are for girls.
Latest rank (E&W)
#5201
2007
Births in 2007
3
Latest year
Peak year
1998
19 births
Estimated living
88
2026
Gender
Boy and girl registrations for Courtenay
In England and Wales birth records, Courtenay has been registered for both boys and girls. Across the years shown here, 5.3% of registrations are for boys and 94.7% 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.
Courtenay registered for boys
- Ranked #2,022 in 1997
- 5 boys registered in 1997
- Peak: 1997 (5 births)
Courtenay registered for girls
- Ranked #5,201 in 2007
- 3 girls registered in 2007
- Peak: 1998 (19 births)
Meaning
What does Courtenay mean?
The name Courtenay has its origins in the French language and can be traced back to the Middle Ages. It is believed to have derived from the Old French word "cort," meaning "short" or "small," and the suffix "-enai," which denotes a place of origin. The name was likely coined to refer to someone who lived in or came from a small or petite place.
The name rose to prominence in the 11th century, when it was adopted by the noble Courtenay family, who held lands in the Île-de-France region of France. The Courtenay family played a significant role in the Crusades and the governance of the Latin Empire of Constantinople in the early 13th century.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Courtenay can be found in the chronicles of the Third Crusade, where it was used to refer to Renaud de Courtenay (c. 1150-1227), a French nobleman who became the second Latin Emperor of Constantinople in 1216.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Courtenay. One such figure was William Courtenay (c. 1342-1396), an English prelate who served as Archbishop of Canterbury and Lord Chancellor of England during the reign of King Richard II.
Another prominent bearer of the name was Edward Courtenay, 1st Earl of Devon (1527-1556), an English nobleman who was a close friend of King Edward VI and a potential heir to the English throne during the Tudor period.
In the realm of literature, Courtenay was the name of a character in the influential medieval romance "Le Roman de la Rose," written by Guillaume de Lorris and Jean de Meun in the 13th century.
Courtenay was also the first name of the British-American author Courtenay Politzer (1888-1968), known for her novels and short stories depicting the lives of the upper classes in early 20th century New York and Paris.
Additionally, the name Courtenay has been used by several notable artists, including the American painter Courtenay C. Pollock (1903-1998), known for her abstract expressionist works, and the British sculptor Courtenay Gregory (1898-1977), known for his monumental public art pieces.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Courtenay over time
The chart below compares boys and girls registered as Courtenay in England and Wales, from 1996 to 2007. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Courtenay, the clearest high point is 1998. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2007, compared with 19 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Courtenay by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Courtenay 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | #3830 | 29 | 6 |
| 1990s | #1265 | 60 | 4 |
Related
Names similar to Courtenay
- 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
Courtenay: questions and answers
How popular is the name Courtenay in the UK right now?
In 2007, Courtenay was ranked #5201 for girls in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Courtenay most popular?
The peak year on record was 1998, with 19 babies registered as Courtenay in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Courtenay?
A feminine name of Anglo-Norman French origins, possibly derived from the French place name.
How many people are called Courtenay in the UK?
A total of 89 babies have been registered as Courtenay across the 10 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here.
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.