Cortez Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
The name Cortez has Spanish origins, meaning 'court' or 'courtier.' It evolved from the Old Spanish 'Cortés' and became popular in the 16th century due to Hernán Cortés's notoriety. The name is associated with traits of adventure and strength and has no biblical relevance.
The name Cortez is most popular in Missouri, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Boy name among the Millennials (Gen Y) generation in the MidWest region. Recent 3-year trends show this Boy name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. Recent 3-year trends show this Girl name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. From 2020-2022, Cortez has been falling for male in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, stalled for male in South, stalled for male in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, stalled for male in South, stalled for male in West. Across generations, 'Cortez' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 2290th out of 7545 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 2254th out of 6773 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 1562nd out of 7552 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 972nd out of 10718 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 645th out of 16616 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 887th out of 24088 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 1272nd out of 23106 names. Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 5044th out of 9107 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 9204th out of 9204 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 16521st out of 19264 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 18297th out of 27321 names. Discover how the name 'Cortez' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Cortez"
Pronunciation
/kɔrˈtɛz/
Origin
Spanish
Etymology
The name Cortez is derived from the Spanish word 'corte,' which means 'court' or 'courtier.' It is often associated with the Spanish explorer Hernán Cortés, who conquered the Aztec Empire.
Meaning
court, courtier
Language Evolution
Cortez (Modern Spanish), Cortés (Old Spanish)
Historical Usage
The name gained popularity in the 16th century due to the fame of Hernán Cortés. It has been used as a surname and a given name in various cultures, particularly in Spanish-speaking countries.
Variants & Derivatives
Cortés, Cortez, Cortezito
Modern Popularity & Image
Cortez is viewed as a strong and adventurous name, often associated with exploration and conquest. It retains a cultural significance in Latin America and among Spanish-speaking communities.
Famous People
Hernán Cortés (Spanish Conquistador), Cortez Kennedy (American football player), Cortez M. Washington (American politician)
Explore More Cortez Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Cortez"
Note: Years with identical rankings may represent different numbers of births. Data is sourced from Social Security card applications for births in the United States.
Yearly Ranking History of "Cortez"
"Cortez" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Boy | 2290th of 7545 | 204 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Boy | 2254th of 6773 | 201 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Boy | 1562nd of 7552 | 479 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Boy | 972nd of 10718 | 1,113 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Boy | 645th of 16616 | 3,713 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Boy | 887th of 24088 | 3,299 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Boy | 1272nd of 23106 | 1,783 |
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Girl | 5044th of 9107 | 51 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Girl | 9204th of 9204 | 5 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Girl | 16521st of 19264 | 10 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Girl | 18297th of 27321 | 23 |
Regional Popularity of "Cortez" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - | - | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
37.14% 827th/2227 |
67.94% 1651st/2430 |
- | - |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
18.96% 557th/2937 |
63.82% 2223rd/3483 |
37.04% 1303rd/3518 |
- |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
10.47% 386th/3685 |
40.94% 1832nd/4475 |
10.78% 560th/5194 |
46.57% 2942nd/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
12.66% 580th/4582 |
66.98% 3459th/5164 |
10.35% 757th/7313 |
25.93% 1935th/7463 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
22.09% 880th/3984 |
69.69% 3127th/4487 |
16.92% 1154th/6822 |
29.88% 1875th/6276 |
Regional Popularity of "Cortez" by Generation for Female Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - | - | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- | - | - | - |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
State-by-State Popularity of "Cortez"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Cortez" across states, calculated by dividing the number of births with this name in each state by the total births in that state. This methodology provides a standardized measure of popularity regardless of state population size.