Cortez
Boy name · #1655 in 2025 · Very rare
How old is the name Cortez? In official American birth records, Cortez has been tracked continuously since 1882, giving it 143 years of documented American history.
Cortez ranks #1655 among American boys' names as of 2025, with 101 newborns given the name that year. A decade ago it stood at #1042, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 17,822 boys born in 2025 was named Cortez.
The 143-year story
Cortez first appears in the Social Security records in 1882, when 5 boys received the name. Its peak came in 1990, when 346 boys were named Cortez — good for #532 that year. Today's parents encounter it on its way down the popularity curve, which for many parents is exactly the appeal. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Babies named Cortez per year. Source: Official national birth records.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Cortez against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Cortez in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Cortez is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "very rare". A high score means genuine rarity — your Cortez will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Cortez is most common
State-level data for Cortez is too sparse in 2025 to rank by rate — in most states its count falls below the SSA's per-state reporting threshold (counts under 5 are withheld).
Names like Cortez
Statistically, parents drawn to Cortez tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Nestor, German, Rashad, Marquis, and Deangelo.
NestorGermanRashadMarquisDeangeloMarkusEfrainMarquez
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Cortez | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 101 | #1654 |
| 2024 | 77 | #1997 |
| 2023 | 84 | #1875 |
| 2022 | 104 | #1652 |
| 2021 | 145 | #1300 |
| 2020 | 124 | #1398 |
| 2019 | 147 | #1271 |
| 2018 | 149 | #1238 |
| 2017 | 176 | #1104 |
| 2016 | 162 | #1175 |
| 2015 | 192 | #1042 |
| 2014 | 195 | #1035 |
| 2013 | 229 | #907 |
| 2012 | 195 | #1011 |
| 2011 | 195 | #995 |
| 2010 | 214 | #940 |
| 2009 | 227 | #909 |
| 2008 | 200 | #985 |
| 2007 | 205 | #959 |
| 2006 | 200 | #937 |
| 2005 | 223 | #832 |
| 2004 | 185 | #917 |
| 2003 | 195 | #877 |
| 2002 | 163 | #970 |
| 2001 | 205 | #813 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Cortez?
In official American birth records, the name Cortez first appeared in 1882 (over 143 years ago), when 5 newborn boys received the name. It has over a century of continuous American history.
Is Cortez a popular boy name?
Cortez ranked #1655 among boys in 2025 with 101 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #1042.
When was the name Cortez most popular?
Cortez peaked in 1990, when 346 American boys received the name (ranked #532 that year). Since 1990 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Cortez?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 17,822 newborn American boys was named Cortez. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "very rare".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.