Noah Boy
NOH-uh
“rest, comfort” · Hebrew
#2
Kurt
BoyGerman, Germanic· “short form of Konrad; bold counsel”
- Meaning
- short form of Konrad; bold counsel
- Origin
- German, Germanic
- Pronunciation
- KURT
- Syllables
- 1
- US rank 2025
- #2,271
- US babies 2025
- 62
- Best rank
- #109 (1964)
- Peak year
- 1964
Meaning and origin of Kurt
Kurt is a German and Germanic name that means “short form of Konrad; bold counsel”.
Kurt is a German short form of Konrad, a name built from the Germanic kuoni, bold, and rad, counsel, so it is often explained as bold counsel. It has been used in German-speaking countries for centuries and became familiar in English-speaking countries in the twentieth century. Famous bearers include the novelist Kurt Vonnegut and the musician Kurt Cobain. The name has a crisp, strong sound and a slightly intellectual feel.
Other spellings with the same sound: Curt, Kirt.
Popularity over time
Kurt first appears in US Social Security records in 1894. It has ranked in the top 1,000 in 83 different years, starting in 1894. Its best national rank was #109 in 1964, the same year it reached its highest count of 3,158 babies. In 2025, 62 babies were named Kurt, and it ranked #2,271 nationally. That is 49% fewer than ten years earlier, so it is becoming less common.
Its national rank moved from #1,196 in 1920, #233 in 1950, #192 in 1980, #610 in 2000, #1,468 in 2010, and #2,271 in 2025. Of the 85,858 US boys named Kurt since records began, 33% were born in the 1960s, its biggest decade. The 1950s come next, with 18,642 babies. Since 2010, 1,535 more have been named Kurt.
Other boys' names that peaked around the same time include Darrin, Darin, Jon, Byron, and Darren.
Where it is most popular (2025)
In 2025, Kurt ranked highest in Ohio, New York, and Texas.
Gender, sound and spelling
In the US it is used almost only for boys.
Kurt is usually pronounced KURT, with one syllable. It has four letters, starts with K and ends in “-rt”. Names that sound the same but are spelled differently include Curt and Kirt.
Middle names for Kurt
A few middle names that flow with Kurt: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Kurt
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Lists that include Kurt
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Kurt mean?
Kurt is a German and Germanic name that means “short form of Konrad; bold counsel”.
What is the origin of the name Kurt?
Kurt has German and Germanic roots. Kurt is a German short form of Konrad, a name built from the Germanic kuoni, bold, and rad, counsel, so it is often explained as bold counsel.
Is Kurt a popular name?
Not especially. Kurt ranked #2,271 in the US in 2025, which puts it outside the top 1,000.
Is Kurt a boy or girl name?
Kurt is mainly a boy's name. In the US it is used almost only for boys.
How do you pronounce Kurt?
Kurt is usually pronounced KURT. Stressed syllables are in capital letters.
Popularity figures come from US Social Security card applications (names given to at least five babies in a year, 1880 to 2025). How we source names and meanings