Courteney

Courteney is a given name, primarily feminine, and a variant spelling of Courtney. It is also encountered as a surname in a minority of cases. The name is most common in English-speaking countries.

Origin and meaning: Courtney originates from a Norman French toponym, Courtenay, a place name in France. The toponym is believed to derive from medieval elements referring to a court or domain, and it was adopted into English first as a surname and later as a given name.

Usage: The spelling Courteney, with an -ey ending, is less common than Courtney but is widely recognized as a distinct variant. The name gained popularity in the 20th century in Anglophone contexts, largely through its use as a given name rather than a surname.

Notable people: The best-known bearer of the spelling Courteney is American actress Courteney Cox (born 1964), star of the television series Friends. As a surname, Courteney remains rare but appears in historical records and modern instances.

Variants and related names: Courtney, Courtenay, and Courtnee are closely related forms. The name Courtney is widely used for both boys and girls in English-speaking countries, while Courteney is mainly used for females.