Given name & surname
Cortland
“a courteous woman; courtly”·“a courteous man; courtly”·“a court attendant; a courtier”
Cortland is a variant of Courtney. Interpretations include “a courteous woman; courtly” (English) and “a courteous man; courtly” (English). These may reflect different naming traditions. Cortland is a variant of Cort. One English interpretation is “a court attendant; a courtier.”
Meaning & origin
What it means
Cortland is a variant of Courtney. Interpretations include “a courteous woman; courtly” (English) and “a courteous man; courtly” (English). These may reflect different naming traditions. Cortland is a variant of Cort. One English interpretation is “a court attendant; a courtier.”
Explained through its name family
Where it comes from
Cortland is a variant of Courtney. An origin associated with Courtney is Old French. Cortland is a variant of Cort. An origin associated with Cort is English.
Explained through its name family
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1913. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin. Cortland is a variant of Courtney. The history of Courtney gives this family its wider story. Courtney’s naming history includes the use of a family name as a given name.
Combines direct and name-family evidence
Cortland through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 2,194
- 2,145 boys · 49 girls
- Most popular year
- 2011
- 62 babies
- 2025
- 27
- #3,968 for boys
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- −16%
- Easing
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 27 U.S. birth records for boys, ranking No. 3,968 among boys’ names. Average annual use for boys was 21.2% lower in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for boys was 62 in 2011. Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 1,653 as a first name in 2020; 103 as a surname in 2010.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Cortland’s family of names
Cortland has a related form in Courtney. Cortland has a related form in Cort.
Inner ring: spellings · outer: nicknames and forms.
Nicknames & forms 2
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Spellings & scripts 1
The same name written differently, including transliterations into other scripts.
People named Cortland
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Cortland, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
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Keegan
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90% boys · 10% girls
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Caiden
Caiden is a masculine given name.
99% boys · 1% girls
Cayden
Cayden is a masculine given name.
98% boys · 2% girls