Courteous or polite
Derived from the Old French and Spanish word 'cortés', meaning 'courteous' or 'polite'. It originally denoted a person with courtly manners or someone who worked at a royal court. While primarily known as a surname, it has been used as a given name in the United States since the early 20th century.
About 101 boys were named Cortez in 2025.
NFL Hall of Fame defensive tackle
Former NFL cornerback
US births per 5-year period, 1990–present (SSA data).
The same feel as Cortez — far less common.
Hidden gems that stand out.
