Curtis Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
The name Curtis has its roots in Old French, meaning 'courteous' or 'polite.' It evolved from the surname Curteis and has been used as a given name since the Middle Ages. The name conveys traits of charm and respectability, with no direct biblical relevance.
The name Curtis is most popular in Mississippi, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Boy name among the Baby Boomers generation in the South 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, Curtis has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for female in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, stalled for female in Northeast, falling for male in South, stalled for female in South, falling for male in West, stalled for female in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for female in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, stalled for female in Northeast, stalled for male in South, stalled for female in South, stalled for male in West, stalled for female in West. Across generations, 'Curtis' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 120th out of 7545 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 106th out of 6773 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 87th out of 7552 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 87th out of 10718 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 115th out of 16616 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 321st out of 24088 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 650th out of 23106 names. Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 1474th out of 9107 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 1499th out of 9204 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 1921st out of 12526 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 2866th out of 19264 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 5030th out of 27321 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 35406th out of 35406 names. Discover how the name 'Curtis' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Curtis"
Pronunciation
/ˈkɜːrtɪs/
Origin
Old French
Etymology
The name Curtis derives from the Old French word 'curteis,' which means 'courteous' or 'polite.' It was originally used as a surname before becoming a given name.
Meaning
courteous, polite
Language Evolution
Curteis, Curtis
Historical Usage
The name Curtis gained popularity in England during the Middle Ages and has remained in use since then, often associated with nobility and chivalry.
Variants & Derivatives
Curt, Curtie, Curtis
Modern Popularity & Image
Currently, Curtis is perceived as a classic and somewhat traditional name, often associated with a sense of charm and respectability.
Famous People
Curtis Mayfield, Curtis Hanson, Curtis Jackson (50 Cent)
Explore More Curtis Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Curtis"
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 "Curtis"
"Curtis" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Boy | 120th of 7545 | 22,722 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Boy | 106th of 6773 | 35,942 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Boy | 87th of 7552 | 85,080 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Boy | 87th of 10718 | 52,568 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Boy | 115th of 16616 | 41,606 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Boy | 321st of 24088 | 15,723 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Boy | 650th of 23106 | 4,906 |
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Girl | 1474th of 9107 | 514 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Girl | 1499th of 9204 | 497 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Girl | 1921st of 12526 | 599 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Girl | 2866th of 19264 | 403 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Girl | 5030th of 27321 | 275 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Girl | 35406th of 35406 | 5 |
Regional Popularity of "Curtis" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
10.81% 153rd/1416 |
15.81% 218th/1379 |
2.83% 67th/2366 |
18.56% 212th/1142 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
7.89% 122nd/1546 |
11.18% 174th/1556 |
2.68% 63rd/2353 |
10.67% 165th/1547 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
3.77% 84th/2227 |
4.69% 114th/2430 |
2.17% 62nd/2853 |
3.35% 93rd/2775 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
2.76% 81st/2937 |
3.73% 130th/3483 |
2.36% 83rd/3518 |
2.60% 105th/4044 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
2.69% 99th/3685 |
2.97% 133rd/4475 |
2.18% 113th/5194 |
2.49% 157th/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
6.07% 278th/4582 |
6.02% 311th/5164 |
4.03% 295th/7313 |
5.27% 393rd/7463 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
14.48% 577th/3984 |
16.74% 751st/4487 |
8.78% 599th/6822 |
12.17% 764th/6276 |
Regional Popularity of "Curtis" by Generation for Female Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - |
45.05% 1066th/2366 |
- |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - |
59.92% 1410th/2353 |
- |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
95.69% 2131st/2227 |
- |
59.41% 1695th/2853 |
100.00% 2775th/2775 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- |
100.00% 3483rd/3483 |
100.00% 3518th/3518 |
87.17% 3525th/4044 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
State-by-State Popularity of "Curtis"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Curtis" 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.