Cory Overview
- Meaning: Cory has several meanings and origins, including “from the hollow,” “cauldron,” “spear,” or “maiden.”
- Gender: The name is unisex but is used most commonly among boys.
- Origin: The name is of Irish Gaelic, Greek, and Norse origin.
- Pronunciation: “KOHR-ee”
- Popularity: It is fairly popular as both a boy’s and a girl’s name.
- Nicknames: Coco, Cor, Cor-Cor, Coral, Corazón, Cork, Corky, Corn, Corny, C-Ray, Quart, Ray, Ree, Ree-Ree.
- Variations: Cora, Corey, Cori, Corie, Corinna, Corinne, Corrie, Kora, Korey, Kori, Korie, Korinna, Korinne, Korrie, Kory.
- Namesakes: Cory Doctorow (American author), Cory Feldman (American actor), Corey Taylor (American musician).
What Does Cory Mean?
The name Cory has several meanings according to its variety of origins (1). These meanings include:
- “From the hollow/dweller in the hollow”
- “From the round hill”
- “Spear”
- “Cauldron/seething pool”
- “Maiden”
What is the Origin of the Name Cory?
The name Cory can claim many origins, including Irish Gaelic, Greek, and Old Norse.
In Irish Gaelic, it has different origins depending on whether it is used as a given name or a surname. The given name derives from the Gaelic word coire, which means “in the hollow” or “in the cauldron” (the shape of the hill or ravine the word refers to).
The surname derives from the words corradh, meaning “spear,” and Ó Comhraidhe, meaning “son of Comhraidhe” or “descendant of Comhraidhe.” (2)
In Greek, it derives from the name Cora, which derives from Kórē, an epithet of the goddess Persephone. This title translates roughly to “the maiden.”
In Norse, it derives from the name Kori, commonly found in Scandinavia and whose meaning is uncertain. Some theorize that it derives from the Old Norse word kárr, which means “curly-haired” or “obstinate/wild.”
How Popular is the Name Cory?
Cory was first used as a given name for boys in the 1950s. It was first used as a girl’s name in the 1970s, though this was less common.
It is also commonly used as a surname.
Though its popularity has waned since the early 2000s, the name Cory is still popular. It is the 985th most popular name for baby boys. Its variant spelling Corey is the 553rd (3).
Its female variant, Corinne, is the 960th most popular name for baby girls.
How Do I Pronounce Cory?
The name Cory is pronounced “KOHR-ee.”
Is Cory a Boy or Girl Name?
Cory can be used as a boy’s or a girl’s name but is more common as a boy’s name.
It has several explicitly feminine variants like Corinne or Corinna.
Variations of Cory
If you like the idea of Cory, but the spelling doesn’t feel quite right, you might prefer one of its variations instead.
- Cora
- Corey
- Cori
- Corie
- Corinna
- Corinne
- Corrie
- Kora
- Korey
- Kori
- Korie
- Korinna
- Korinne
- Korrie
- Kory
Nicknames for Cory
Here are some cool nicknames to call a child named Cory.
- Coco
- Cor
- Cor-Cor
- Coral
- Corazón
- Cork
- Corky
- Corn
- Corny
- C-Ray
- Quart
- Ray
- Ree
- Ree-Ree
Cory is often a nickname for a longer name, such as Corinne or Cornelius.
Similar Names to Cory
Names that are similar to Cory in sound and meaning include:
- Ari (Norse/Icelandic/Norwegian)
- Cavan (Irish)
- Cord (German)
- Forest (English)
- Gary (English)
- Ketil (Norwegian)
- Logan (Irish)
- Maura (Irish)
- Parthenia (Greek)
- Rory (Irish)
- Tori (Latin/Japanese)
- Torkell (Norwegian/Swedish)
Middle Names for Cory
Male and female middle names that would fit a child named Cory include:
Sibling Names for Cory
Some names could pair well with Cory for the child’s brothers and sisters include:
For a Brother:
For a Sister:
Famous People Named Cory
The name Cory is shared by many celebrities and well-known figures worldwide. Some of the people who also bear the name include:
- Corey Feldman: American actor.
- Corey Haim: American actor.
- Corey Taylor: American singer, songwriter, and musician.
- Corinna Everson: American bodybuilding champion and actress.
- Cory Booker: American senator.
- Cory Doctorow: American author.
- Cory Doran: Canadian voice actor.
- Cory Joseph: Canadian basketball player.
- Cory Michael Smith: American actor.
- Cory Monteith: Canadian actor and musician.
- Cory Spangenberg: American baseball player.
- Cory Spinks: American boxer.
- Cory Walker: American comic book artist.
- Cory Wong: American musician and producer.
Cory in Popular Culture
The name Cory often appears in popular culture. Characters and media in which it appears are listed here.
- Corey Baker: a character on the 1968 TV show Julia.
- Corey Brockfield: a character in the 2017 TV drama Big Little Lies.
- Corey Stoll: a character in the 2013 political drama TV series House of Cards.
- Cory Baxter: a character in the 2003 Disney Channel show That’s So Raven and protagonist of its 2007 sequel series Cory in the House.
- Cory Dollanganger: a character from the 1979 novel Flowers in the Attic by V. C. Andrews.
- Cory Lambert: a character from the 2017 thriller film Wind River.
- Cory Matthews: the protagonist of the 1993 TV show Boy Meets World.
- Cory Maxson: a character in the 1985 play Fences by August Wilson and its 2016 film adaptation.
- Kory Anders: the human name of the superhero Starfire in DC Comics.
- Richard Cory: the protagonist of the 1897 poem of the same name by Edwin Arlington. Robinson and the subject of the 1966 song of the same name by Simon and Garfunkel.
Cory FAQs
Here are the answers to some of the most commonly asked questions about the name Cory.
Is It Cory or Corey?
Cory and Corey are not separate names. They are variant spellings of the same name, so either is correct.
Is Cory a British Name?
Cory is a name partially of Irish origin, but it is also used commonly in Britain. Though, as in the United States, its popularity has waned in the 2000s, it is still one of the most popular names for baby boys (4).
Is Cory a Biblical Name?
The name Cory does not appear in the Bible.
