Home › Baby Names Directory › Kurtis

Kurtis

♂ Boy

Pronounced KER-tis /ˈkɜr.tɪs/High

Meaning: K-spelling of Curtis — Old French curteis, 'courteous, courtly' — hip-hop founding-father spelledHigh

In 30 seconds: Courtesy with a K: Kurtis polishes Curtis — 'courtly mannered' — and Kurtis Blow rapped it into history ('The Breaks', certified gold first).
💕 Browse more names
Origin HighFrench, English
MeaningK-spelling of Curtis — Old French curteis, 'courteous, courtly' — hip-hop founding-father spelled
U.S. rank (2024)#3843 ↘ Falling
2024 U.S. births29 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)
Peak year1989
Total births (all-time)≈ 18,089

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 198919342024

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

History & Origin

Kurtis is the K-spelling of Curtis — Old French curteis, 'courteous' — carried to hip-hop history by Kurtis Blow.

It registers thinly today. Rare, courteous at the root, and breakbeat-blessed.

Did you know? Kurtis Blow was rap's first major-label signing and first gold single — courtliness, breakdanced.
Overall data confidence 82%
Behind the Name — Curtis — root etymology

Variations

CurtisCurtissKurt

Nicknames

Kurt

Famous Bearers

  • ★Kurtis Blow (1959–present)
    American rapper, hip-hop's first gold-certified artist.

If you like Kurtis…

Curtis— the standard courteous form
Kurt— the clipped Germanic brother
Marcus— a fellow solid classic
Otis— the companion -tis soul name

Browse the whole category: All French names →  ·  All English names →  ·  All origins →

Frequently Asked

What does the name Kurtis mean?

Kurtis spells Curtis, Old French for 'courteous, courtly'.

How do you pronounce Kurtis?

It's said KER-tis /ˈkɜr.tɪs/ — two syllables, stress on the first.

Is Kurtis a boy or girl name?

Kurtis is a boy's name.

How popular is Kurtis?

Kurtis is a rare name in the U.S. today.