Male first name (German): Courtney, Old French (Geographic name as first name), court = short (French); nez = the nose (French); use of a Norman family or aristocratic name as first name, and the noble name from in the name of 'Courtenay', a town in northern France, with the meaning 'domain of the Curtis', was also Folk etymology interpreted earlier as a nickname 'court nez', about 'short nose' Female first name (English): Courtney, Old French (Geographical Name as a first name), court = short (French); nez = the nose (French); use of a Norman family or aristocratic name as first name, as a male first name in use - more to see there home