Holding steady.
Popularity of Kortnee since 1978
Babies named Kortnee per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1970s | 6 |
| 1980s | 146 |
| 1990s | 317 |
| 2000s | 155 |
| 2010s | 36 |
| 2020s | 0 |
Meaning & origin
Kortnee emerged as a creative spelling of Courtney in the late 20th century, first recorded in 1978 during a period when phonetic and stylized variations of established names became popular. The name reached its highest usage in 1990, reflecting the broader popularity of Courtney in the 1990s. Though it has never appeared in the top 1000 rankings, Kortnee represents a personalized adaptation of a classic surname-turned-first-name. Its trajectory has remained stable since the 1990s without a revival. Today, it remains a rare choice, appealing to parents seeking a familiar name with a distinctive twist.
Kortnee is a modern respelling of Courtney, which originated as an English surname from the Old French 'courtnay', a place name combining 'court' (short) and 'nez' (nose), literally 'short nose'. The surname gained popularity as a given name for girls in the 20th century, with creative spellings like Kortnee emerging in the 1970s and 1980s as part of the trend toward unique phonetic variations.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Kort, Korty, NeeNee
Sibling names for Kortnee
Names that share Kortnee's style, for a brother or sister.
