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.
US births per 5-year period, 1990–present (SSA data).
NFL Hall of Fame defensive tackle
Former NFL cornerback
The same feel as Cortez — far less common.
Hidden gems that stand out.
