All about the name

Cory

Female

« Cory is an American unisex name derived from the Gaelic male given name Cormac, meaning "chariot of the sea. »

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Meaning, origin, history

Cory is a given name used for both sexes, though it appears in twentieth-century records as a feminine form derived from names such as Cora and Corinne. Its association with the Greek word korē (“maiden”) is etymological rather than direct; the name itself developed through modern naming practices rather than ancient transmission.

Meaning of the name Cory

The name is often associated with the Greek word korē, which was used in classical texts to describe an unmarried young woman and served as an epithet for Persephone. Corinne and Cora share this linguistic foundation, and Cory emerged as a shortened form that adapts the root into a modern phonetic shape. The exact etymology of Cory is not definitively established, and it may also derive from other sources, including surnames or place names.

Origin of the name Cory

Corinne and Cora entered Western naming traditions through Latin and French intermediaries, with Corinne gaining prominence in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. Cory appears primarily in twentieth-century records as an English-speaking given name. It emerged as a phonetic variant and independent form, reflecting broader twentieth-century trends toward shorter names ending in vowels.

History of the name Cory

Records indicate increased usage of Cory for females in English-speaking regions during the mid-twentieth century. The name developed through modern parental choice and phonetic simplification rather than institutional or religious transmission. Its usage patterns do not show documented ties to specific historical or political movements.

Variants and related forms

The name is related to several established forms that share similar linguistic roots or phonetic structures. Recognised variants include:

  • Corinne, a French form popularized in the modern era
  • Cora, a shortened form derived from Greek Kora
  • Coralie, a French derivative with a similar phonetic structure
  • Corrie and Kori, phonetic variants used in English-speaking regions

Cultural heritage

Cory does not belong to ancient religious traditions or historical naming lineages. Its association with the classical concept of maidenhood is linguistic rather than direct. Modern literature and media occasionally feature characters named Cory, reflecting its status as a contemporary given name. The name carries no documented ties to specific saints, historical rulers, or religious texts, and its cultural presence remains limited to modern naming usage.

In numbers

Popularity of the name Cory since 1880

Total births
6,568
Total since 1880
Peak year
1978
283 births
in 2023
13
Recent births (5 years)
5-year trend
+25% ↗
vs previous 5 years