← All names

Courteney

Girl name · 50 babies recorded · 1974–2025

Courteney: 50 babies born in Scotland since 1974, given to girls, peaking at 13 births in 1997.

Courteney, a feminine variant of Courtney, ultimately derives from the Old French place-name Courtenay, itself from the Gallo-Roman personal name *Curtius* (meaning "short" or "courteous") combined with the locative suffix *-acum*. The name was brought to Britain by the Normans and became a surname before transitioning to a given name. Perhaps the most famous bearer is actress Courteney Cox, beloved for her role as Monica Geller on the sitcom *Friends*. The name also shares its root with the English village of Courtenay in Kent, though the spelling with an 'ey' ending is a distinctly modern, feminine adaptation. While traditionally unisex, the Courteney spelling is almost exclusively female, a variation popularised in the late 20th century.