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Home › Baby Names Directory › Cortez

Cortez

♂ Boy

Pronounced KAWR-tihz /ˈkɔɹ.tɪz/Medium

Meaning: From Spanish surname Cortes/Cortez, from Old Spanish cortes 'courteous, polite'Medium

In 30 seconds: Cortez is a Spanish boy's name from the surname Cortes/Cortez, based on Old Spanish cortes, 'courteous, polite'. The name carries an idea of good manners and refinement.
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Origin MediumSpanish
MeaningFrom Spanish surname Cortes/Cortez, from Old Spanish cortes 'courteous, polite'
U.S. rank (2025)#1655 ↗ Rising
2025 U.S. births101 boys (0.01% of U.S. boys)
Peak year1990
Total births (all-time)≈ 10,898

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 199018822025

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Cortez comes from a Spanish surname rooted in Old Spanish cortes, meaning courteous or polite — the same notion behind the English word 'courtesy'. It moved from family name to given name, keeping its association with civility. The 'ez' ending is the familiar Spanish surname marker.

In the United States the name has a sporting profile through Cortez Kennedy, a Pro Football Hall of Fame defensive tackle who spent his whole career with the Seattle Seahawks.

Did you know? Cortez likely reached first-name use through a surname or place-name route, which gives it that modern borrowed-from-history feel.
Overall data confidence 70%
Behind the Name - Cortez — etymology, usage, pronunciation, and related formsU.S. Social Security Administration — 2024 popularity rank and count supplied in the batch input CSV

Variations

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Nicknames

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Famous Bearers

  • ★Cortez Kennedy (1968–2017)
    American Pro Football Hall of Fame defensive tackle who spent his entire career with the Seattle Seahawks.

If you like Cortez…

Diego— Another Spanish boy's name carrying the same cultural background.
Marquez— lands in the same popularity range
Valen— lands in the same popularity range
Wilmer— another Spanish name
Lenin— shares Cortez's Spanish roots

Explore names like Cortez

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Cortez mean?

Cortez is usually explained as meaning 'origin uncertain' and is most often linked with African American tradition.

How do you pronounce Cortez?

It's commonly said KAWR-tihz /ˈkɔɹ.tɪz/.

Is Cortez a boy or girl name?

In this batch and in recent U.S. usage data, Cortez is used as a boy name.

How popular is Cortez?

In 2024, Cortez ranked #1993 in the U.S. for boys, with 77 births recorded.

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