Cortland
Boy name · #3967 in 2025 · Very rare
How old is the name Cortland? In official American birth records, Cortland has been tracked continuously since 1913, giving it 112 years of documented American history.
In 2025, 27 baby boys were named Cortland, placing it at #3967 in the official national rankings. A decade ago it stood at #2641, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 66,667 boys born in 2025 was named Cortland.
The 112-year story
Cortland first appears in the Social Security records in 1913, when 5 boys received the name. Its peak came in 2011, when 62 boys were named Cortland — good for #2129 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 Cortland per year. Source: Official national birth records.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Cortland against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Cortland in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Cortland is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "very rare". A high score means genuine rarity — your Cortland will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Cortland is most common
State-level data for Cortland 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 Cortland
Statistically, parents drawn to Cortland tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Courtland, Dezmond, Creighton, Davidson, and Johndavid.
CourtlandDezmondCreightonDavidsonJohndavidRobinsonCalenChapman
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Cortland | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 27 | #3949 |
| 2024 | 18 | #5241 |
| 2023 | 28 | #3883 |
| 2022 | 30 | #3691 |
| 2021 | 20 | #4780 |
| 2020 | 27 | #3811 |
| 2019 | 23 | #4337 |
| 2018 | 41 | #2893 |
| 2017 | 28 | #3781 |
| 2016 | 37 | #3111 |
| 2015 | 46 | #2641 |
| 2014 | 42 | #2805 |
| 2013 | 50 | #2461 |
| 2012 | 44 | #2716 |
| 2011 | 62 | #2129 |
| 2010 | 47 | #2579 |
| 2009 | 38 | #3045 |
| 2008 | 31 | #3486 |
| 2007 | 33 | #3313 |
| 2006 | 25 | #3888 |
| 2005 | 29 | #3389 |
| 2004 | 20 | #4264 |
| 2003 | 35 | #2780 |
| 2002 | 43 | #2372 |
| 2001 | 34 | #2742 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Cortland?
In official American birth records, the name Cortland first appeared in 1913 (over 112 years ago), when 5 newborn boys received the name. It has been tracked in modern national records for 112 years.
Is Cortland a popular boy name?
Cortland ranked #3967 among boys in 2025 with 27 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #2641.
When was the name Cortland most popular?
Cortland peaked in 2011, when 62 American boys received the name (ranked #2129 that year). Since 2011 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Cortland?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 66,667 newborn American boys was named Cortland. 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.