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Cody Name Meaning, Origins & History

Cody

Pronunciation: KOH-dee

Meaning Pillow Origin surnames Gender Boy
BOYS RANK
#318
TREND
29
GIRLS RANK
#5,594
TREND
691
Peak Years
1992, 1993, 1991
Lowest Years
1884, 1906, 1897
Energy Archetype
Cheerful & Expressive

Rank shows the name’s position among U.S. baby names for each gender in 2025. Trend shows how many places it rose or fell since 2024. Rank 1 is the most popular. Based on U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA) data. Peak and lowest years are based on the number of boys named Cody in the available records.

Fun Facts About the Name Cody

  • More than 297 thousand babies named Cody: U.S. records list 297,161 babies given the name Cody from 1880 through 2025. Even 5,168 girls received the name Cody - about 1 girl for every 57 boys.

What Does the Name Cody Mean?

Cody is a surname and given name of Irish origin. Its usual meaning is helper, from the Gaelic byname Cuidightheach, a derivative of cuidigh, 'to help.' The surname Ó Cuidighthigh means 'descendant of Cuidightheach,' so the literal sense is 'descendant of the helper.' Broader ideas about helpfulness are later associations, not a separate etymology.

A second origin is also recorded: Mac Óda, meaning 'son of Óda.' Óda is a personal name of Germanic origin, related to names such as Odo, and is not Gaelic. It is often connected with Germanic elements for 'wealth' or 'prosperity,' though that derivation is not certain. Because both Ó Cuidighthigh and Mac Óda were anglicized as Cody, the surname can have more than one root. The two explanations are independent, and the exact origin of any one family is often uncertain.

Cody Name History & Origins

The Gaelic forms behind Cody belong to the medieval Irish surname system in which Ó marked 'descendant of' and Mac marked 'son of.' Ó Cuidighthigh and Mac Óda were later anglicized in English-language records as Cody; the Gaelic prefixes were dropped, and the remaining sounds were spelled with C and d. The surname is strongly associated with County Kilkenny and the surrounding south-east of Ireland, though families of the name are found elsewhere in the country.

Cody came to Britain and North America with Irish emigrants. As a first name, it is a development from the surname and is found in American use by the 20th century. William Frederick 'Buffalo Bill' Cody (1846-1917) is a well-known bearer of the surname, but he did not create the given name. Later fictional characters, such as Cody in the animated film The Rescuers Down Under (1990), are uses of an already familiar name.

How Popular is the Name Cody?

Cody recorded its highest annual U.S. birth count in 1992. Cody entered the top 100 U.S. boy names in 1982.

U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.

Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.

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How the Name Cody Shapes Your Personality and Life?

You are cheerful and friendly, but are apt to have an emotional life. You like to have several lines of effort going at once. You are a good talker and promoter and seldom worry over anything. At times, you can be impatient, and impulsive. You have the ability to bring an idea to completion. You can express yourself joyously and constructively. You might be psychic, but not know it. You are frank, methodical and believe in law, system and order.

You are always looking for an opportunity to achieve financial and emotional security. You are basically peacemaker. You understand the law of harmony and desire to balance your life with those around you. You may feel incomplete without someone to share your love, ideals, wealth or work. You can be very sensitive and could appear a bit shy and perceptive. You have developed intuition, patience and the ability to nurture others. You can achieve the state of happiness if you are willing to accept your needs in a complimentary relationship and go to create them.

✦ Cody's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Cody's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.
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