Coramae is a unique and distinctive given name of African American origin. It was created by the celebrated American playwright August Wilson as part of his ten-play cycle, "The Pittsburgh Cycle" or "The Century Cycle". The character Coramae is introduced in the play "Fences", which premiered on Broadway in 1987.
Coramae is derived from the African name Koroma, which is of Mende origin. The Mende people are an ethnic group primarily found in Sierra Leone, West Africa. Koroma is a common surname among the Mende people and means "peaceful", "harmonious", or "united". However, it's important to note that Coramae is not a direct translation or derivation of Koroma.
August Wilson did not explicitly state why he chose the name Coramae for his character. However, it can be inferred that he may have been inspired by the sound and rhythm of African names, as well as their cultural significance. By giving his character an African-derived name, Wilson could emphasize her roots and heritage, which are significant themes in his plays.
Coramae has not traditionally been a popular given name among African Americans or outside communities. However, since its introduction in "Fences", it has gained some recognition and is occasionally used as a given name today. People named Coramae may appreciate the uniqueness of their name and its connection to August Wilson's influential work.
In conclusion, Coramae is an African American given name created by playwright August Wilson for his character in "Fences". Derived from the Mende surname Koroma, Coramae means "peaceful", "harmonious", or "united". Although not traditionally popular, this unique name carries cultural significance and has gained some recognition since its introduction in Wilson's play.
Coramae is a unique and uncommon name with a fascinating history of usage over the years in the United States. The earliest record of this name being given to babies occurred in 1916 with just 10 births that year. This number decreased significantly to 5 births each in 1918 and 1930, showing that the name was not widely popular during these periods.
There is a notable gap between these early records and the next occurrence of the name in 2011 with another 5 births. Interestingly, this figure remained consistent for two more years, reaching 7 births in 2016 before dropping back down to 5 in both 2020 and 2023.
However, there was a slight increase in popularity for the name Coramae in recent years with 6 births recorded in both 2022 and 2023. This suggests that while still relatively uncommon, this unique name may be experiencing somewhat of a resurgence among parents looking for distinctive names for their children.
In total, there have been 54 recorded births of the name Coramae in the United States since 1916. Despite its fluctuations in popularity over time, Coramae remains a rare and special name with its own unique story to tell through these statistical records.