How to say it
CO · dy
ˈkoʊ.di
Masculine
Cody
Helpful one
What it means
From the Irish surname Ó Cuidighthigh, 'descendant of the helpful one.'
Cody comes from the Irish surname Ó Cuidighthigh, 'descendant of the helpful one.' In America it picked up a strong frontier flavor from William 'Buffalo Bill' Cody and his Wild West show, and it became a hugely popular boys' name in the 1980s and 1990s. It reads cheerful and easygoing. Codie and Kody are the variant spellings.
How to spell Cody
The standard spelling is Cody. Common variants include Codey, Kody, Codie, but Cody is the most widely used form.
Popularity over time
peaked at #24 in 1991, currently #318 in 2025.
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, names given to at least 5 babies in a year, 1880–2025. Reviewed July 2026. See where the names are moving
Heads-up notes
- Pop culture
William 'Buffalo Bill' Cody gave it a Wild West flavor.
- Spelling
From an Irish 'helpful one' surname; Kody and Codie are variants.
Who's worn it
Historical figures, characters, and public faces who share the name. The cultural surface, for whatever weight you want to give it.
- Buffalo Bill Cody frontier scout and Wild West showman
Spelling variants
- Codey
- Kody
- Codie
Names with the same feeling
See Cody from another angle
By style
Common questions
- What does the name Cody mean?
- From the Irish surname Ó Cuidighthigh, 'descendant of the helpful one.'
- What does Cody mean in Irish?
- In Irish, Cody means "Helpful one." Cody comes from the Irish surname Ó Cuidighthigh, 'descendant of the helpful one.' In America it picked up a strong frontier flavor from William 'Buffalo Bill' Cody and his Wild West show, and it became a hugely popular boys' name in the 1980s and 1990s. It reads cheerful and easygoing. Codie and Kody are the variant spellings.
- How do you pronounce Cody?
- Cody is pronounced ˈkoʊ.di. Say it as CO-dy, with the stress on the "co" syllable.
- How do you spell Cody?
- The standard spelling is Cody. Common spelling variants include Codey, Kody, Codie.
- Is Cody a boy or girl name?
- Cody is traditionally a masculine name.
- How popular is the name Cody?
- Cody ranked #318 in the U.S. in 2025, according to Social Security Administration data.