Courteous or polite
Derived from the Old French word 'curteis', it originally served as a nickname for a person of good education and refined manners. While often used as a surname, it transitioned to a given name, though it is less common than the single 's' spelling.
Less common today
Curtiss isn't in the latest US Top 1000. It last peaked at #2,058 in 1993.
Aviation pioneer and founder of the American aircraft industry
American actor known for roles in 'The Chi' and 'West Side Story'
US births per 5-year period, 1990–present (SSA data).
