Fun Facts About the Name Kortland
- 152 babies named Kortland: U.S. records list 152 babies given the name Kortland from 1880 through 2025.
What Does the Name Kortland Mean?
Kortland is best explained as a Dutch topographic name meaning "short land," from the Dutch elements kort ("short") and land ("land"). Names of this type recorded where a family lived or held property, and kort described a short strip or small parcel of ground. The initial K matches Dutch spelling, where this sound is written with K rather than C.
A separate explanation is offered for the similar English spelling Cortland (also Courtland): Old French court, "court" or "manor," joined to land, roughly "land of the court" or "manor land." Kortland and Cortland look alike and can sound alike, but their likely origins differ, and the two should not be merged into one etymology.
Kortland Name History & Origins
Kortland is a surname rather than a traditional given name. It belongs to the broad class of northern European family names taken from a piece of land, and its Dutch form fits the naming customs of the Low Countries, where such topographic surnames were in use by the late Middle Ages. The name was carried to North America by Dutch-descended families; in English-language records, Dutch names were often respelled by ear, so the opening letter and vowels of a name could shift from one document to the next.
In the United States, Kortland appears mainly as a rare surname and only occasionally as a given name. As a first name it stands beside the more familiar English forms Cortland and Courtland, which are also used for boys, while keeping the Dutch k. Because the name is uncommon, documented examples are few, and within a single family it can be hard to tell whether the ancestry is the Dutch "short land" name or an anglicized form of the English Cortland.
How Popular is the Name Kortland?
Kortland has historically been an exceptionally rare given name in the United States, remaining well outside the national mainstream. It saw its highest recorded annual births in 2011. Its best rank was #5,336 in 2011.
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.
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #10,246 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2021 | #10,322 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2020 | #11,373 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2016 | #9,334 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 2015 | #10,167 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2014 | #7,327 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 2013 | #13,209 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2012 | #7,885 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 2011 | #5,336 | 17 | 0.0009% |
| 2009 | #10,518 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2008 | #13,702 | 5 | 0.0002% |
| 2007 | #11,746 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2002 | #8,109 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 2001 | #8,818 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1999 | #6,859 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1998 | #7,254 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1995 | #7,440 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1994 | #8,333 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1992 | #8,001 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1987 | #7,611 | 5 | 0.0003% |
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 Kortland Shapes Your Personality and Life?
EXTREMES in fortune, health and spirituality. You are very versatile, idealistic and intuitive. You either enjoy great success or suffer abject misery. The solution is service to others. Use your leadership abilities for humanity and not for self-glorification. You are frank, methodical and believe in law, system and order.
You are seeking freedom, opportunities to enjoy life: to make love, to go places and to do things. You are very adventurous and willing to take risk to achieve your objectives. New ways and new experiences can't satisfy your restless nature. One adventure leads you to another. You are honest and fair, because you know that this is the only way to receive justice and honesty from other people. But your personal growth is vital for you, and it is difficult to be tied down by rules and obligations. Your restless spirit might best controlled by choosing the field of work that meet your demand for action and adventure.
✦ Kortland's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Kortland's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.