All about the name

Cody

Female

« Cody is a unisex name of Native American origin, derived from the Crow word "Kodzi" meaning "cloud," popularized by William Frederick "Buffalo Bill" Cody and his cousin Nathan Franklin Cody. »

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Meaning, origin, history

Cody is a name of Native American origin, specifically from the Crow tribe. The name Cody is derived from the Crow word "Kodzi," which means "cloud." It was popularized by two notable figures: William Frederick "Buffalo Bill" Cody and his cousin, Nathan Franklin Cody. William F. Cody, born in 1846, was an American soldier, bison hunter, and showman. He earned the nickname "Buffalo Bill" for his hunting skills and later went on to create the famous Wild West show called "Buffalo Bill's Wild West." His cousin Nathan Franklin Cody, born around 1850, was also a scout and served as a guide for the U.S. Army. The name Cody gained popularity in the United States during the late 19th century due to these two men's fame. It was further popularized by William F. Cody when he named his daughter Irma Ermine Geraldine Cody after his mother, Geri (short for Jerusha), and later added "Ermine" and "Geraldine" to the mix. This created some confusion about whether the name Cody is male or female. Today, Cody is a unisex name, with its popularity varying by country and time period. It is more commonly used as a boy's name in the United States, where it has consistently ranked among the top 1000 names since the mid-20th century. However, it also appears in the Social Security Administration's list of popular girl's names. In conclusion, Cody is a name with Native American roots that gained popularity through notable figures like Buffalo Bill Cody and his cousin Nathan Franklin Cody. While historically it has been more commonly used for boys, today it is considered a unisex name.

In numbers

Popularity of the name Cody since 1880

Total births
5,118
Total since 1880
Peak year
1988
253 births
in 2023
35
Recent births (5 years)
5-year trend
+31%
vs previous 5 years