Meaning & Origin
An English surname transferred from the nickname, originally a nickname for a refined or courtly person.
Curtis is a boy's and girl's baby name of Old French origin, from the Old French nickname curteis meaning "refined," "well-bred," or "courtly" — originally a compliment for someone with courtly manners. It developed as an English surname before crossing over as a given name.
Curtis ranked in the U.S. top 50 boys' names through the 1950s and 1960s. Curtis Mayfield, the soul and funk legend, gave the name a creative, deeply soulful image. Rapper 50 Cent, born Curtis Jackson, represents a very different but equally compelling facet of the same name. It's versatile in the best way.