Courage Unisex
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: KUR-ij //ˈkʌrɪdʒ//
Origin: English; French
Meaning: bravery (English); heart (French)
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Courage derives from the Latin word "cor", meaning "heart". This etymological root emphasizes the concept of bravery and inner strength, as the heart has historically been associated with emotions and valor.
The transition from Latin to Old French saw the term evolve into "courage", which retained the essence of its original meaning. The adoption of the term into Middle English occurred around the 14th century, where it began to be used not only as a noun but also as a descriptor of a person's character, reflecting the qualities of bravery and fortitude.
Historically, the notion of courage has been significant across various cultures and eras. In medieval literature, knights were often celebrated for their courage in battle, a theme prevalent in chivalric romances.
The concept is also echoed in religious texts, where courage is frequently depicted as a virtue. For instance, biblical figures such as Joshua, who led the Israelites into the Promised Land, exemplified courage in their leadership and faith.
The King James Bible, published in 1611, further popularized the term within English-speaking contexts, reinforcing its moral and ethical implications. Courage has resonated deeply within cultural narratives, symbolizing not just physical bravery but also moral strength and resilience in the face of adversity.
The name has been associated with various historical figures and literary characters who embody these traits, contributing to its enduring significance. In some traditions, diminutive forms or related names may arise, but the core concept of courage remains a powerful symbol of human spirit and determination throughout history.
Fictional characters named Courage
The following list of fictional characters named Courage is a work in progress. If you would like to suggest an additional character, please send us the character's name along with a brief, one-sentence description of what they are best known for.
You may also submit corrections, which we will review and update as quickly as possible.
Courage is a fictional character from the animated television series Courage the Cowardly Dog. He is a timid dog who often must overcome his fears to protect his owners from supernatural threats.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Courage, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.
U.S. Historical Usage
The name Courage was first seen in the United States in 1990.
Courage has ranked as high as #8832 nationally, which occurred in 2018, and has been most popular in .
In the past 5 years the name Courage has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Courage is part of our comprehensive baby names database, which includes Social Security Administration (SSA) data dating back to 1880—the first official year of state and national tracking. The chart below shows when Courage was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.
Popularity Over Time (National) — Table
We track the national popularity of each baby name annually. The table below displays each year along with the number of births reported by the Social Security Administration. This data combines all state-level reporting from the SSA's baby names database to provide a comprehensive view of overall birth counts for Courage.
| Year | Total Births | Boy | Girl |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 10 | 10 | 0 |
| 2024 | 11 | 11 | 0 |
| 2023 | 20 | 14 | 6 |
| 2022 | 17 | 11 | 6 |
| 2021 | 12 | 12 | 0 |
| 2020 | 16 | 10 | 6 |
| 2019 | 25 | 18 | 7 |
| 2018 | 25 | 14 | 11 |
| 2017 | 15 | 8 | 7 |
| 2016 | 15 | 15 | 0 |
| 2015 | 13 | 13 | 0 |
| 2014 | 21 | 14 | 7 |
| 2013 | 10 | 10 | 0 |
| 2012 | 9 | 9 | 0 |
| 2011 | 18 | 11 | 7 |
| 2010 | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| 2009 | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| 2008 | 12 | 7 | 5 |
| 2007 | 11 | 11 | 0 |
| 2006 | 7 | 7 | 0 |
| 2005 | 9 | 9 | 0 |
| 2004 | 7 | 7 | 0 |
| 2002 | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| 2000 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| 1999 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| 1998 | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| 1996 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| 1990 | 8 | 8 | 0 |
Top States for Courage
We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. The table below shows the five states with the highest number of births for this name in the selected year. Use the toggle to expand the list to every state with reported births.
No state data available for this year.