Cortes is a Spanish surname and given name of Basque origin. It comes from the Basque word "ko" which means "head" or "leader". The name was originally given to people who were considered leaders in their communities.
The name Cortes has a long history in Spain, dating back to the Middle Ages. It was commonly used as a surname among the Basque people and over time became popular as a given name as well.
In the 16th century, Hernán Cortés, a Spanish conquistador, played a significant role in the colonization of Mexico. He is famous for leading an expedition that resulted in the fall of the Aztec empire. His name has contributed to the popularity of the surname Cortes and has given it an association with exploration and adventure.
Today, Cortes is still a popular name in Spain and among Spanish-speaking communities around the world. It is considered a strong and powerful name, reflective of its origins as a leader's title.
The name Cortes has been a relatively rare choice for babies born in the United States over the past few decades. Between 1983 and 2019, there were only 27 recorded births with this name.
Looking at the data year by year, we can see that the name Cortes was most popular in the late 1980s to early 1990s. There were six births in 1989 and five births in both 1991 and 1995. However, the popularity of this name seems to have waned over time, as there was only one birth recorded in each year from 2007 to 2016.
Interestingly, after a decade without any recorded births with the name Cortes, there was a slight resurgence in popularity in recent years. There were five births with this name in both 2018 and 2019.
While the overall number of births with the name Cortes remains quite low compared to other names, it is encouraging to see that parents are still choosing this unique name for their children even decades after its initial popularity.