The name Courtenay is of French origin, derived from the medieval family name 'de Courtené', which was taken from the place named Courtaney in Normandy. It began as a surname but has since been adopted as a given name, particularly for males. The name Courtenay is associated with several notable figures throughout history, such as William de Courtenay who was the Archbishop of Canterbury in the 12th century. Today, it remains a unique and distinguished choice for parents seeking an uncommon yet historic name.
The name Courtenay experienced significant fluctuations in popularity over the years, with a notable spike occurring between 1964 and 1976, reaching its peak in 1966 with 67 births. After this period, the number of annual births steadily decreased until it reached its lowest point in recent years, with only 5 or fewer births recorded annually from 2003 onwards. Overall, there were a total of 1189 births named Courtenay between 1925 and 2005.