Cody is an anglicization of the Irish surname Ó Cuidighthigh, which comes from a personal name meaning "helpful." As a first name, its use may have been inspired by American cowboy and showman William "Buffalo Bill" Cody (1846-1917). As a first name, it became popular in the USA in the 1980s/1990s along with the rise of other "western" type names, like Sierra, Dakota etc.See Also: Cody (girl), Coty, Kodie