Declining since 2018, #113 for girls today.
Popularity of Cora since 1880
Babies named Cora per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 2019, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Cora's real moment was 1880.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1880s | 11,954 |
| 1890s | 12,880 |
| 1900s | 10,372 |
| 1910s | 15,317 |
| 1920s | 16,161 |
| 1930s | 11,253 |
| 1940s | 8,749 |
| 1950s | 5,869 |
| 1960s | 3,393 |
| 1970s | 2,093 |
| 1980s | 2,224 |
| 1990s | 3,323 |
| 2000s | 7,745 |
| 2010s | 27,816 |
| 2020s | 16,879 |
Meaning & origin
Cora has a long history of steady use, first appearing in U.S. records in 1880, when it was most popular and ranked 113th. That rank was also its peak, and the name has since fallen in popularity, though it remains a well-known choice. The trajectory has been falling since 2018, indicating a gradual decline in recent years. Its greatest popularity in the 1880s aligns with the revival of classical and mythological names. Geographically, Cora has been most common in Rhode Island, Washington D.C., and South Dakota. Today, approximately 1 in 662 baby girls is named Cora, maintaining its presence as a familiar yet not overly common name.
Cora is derived from the Greek word "kore," meaning "maiden" or "daughter." In Greek mythology, Persephone, the daughter of Demeter, was sometimes called Kore. The name gained popularity in the English-speaking world in the 19th century, particularly after the publication of James Fenimore Cooper's novel "The Last of the Mohicans" (1826), which featured a character named Cora. It has remained a classic choice since then.
Where Cora is most popular
Births per 100,000 girls by state. Press play or drag the slider to watch it move across the decades. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
“Cora” around the world
Where Cora lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
10
babies in 2024
Ireland
#86
in 2025
New Zealand
23
babies in 2025
Sources: INSEE (France) · CSO Ireland (Ireland) · NZ Dept of Internal Affairs (New Zealand).
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Cory, Coco
Sibling names for Cora
Names that share Cora's style, for a brother or sister.
Sisters: Clara, Ella, Mae, Nora, Vera, Aria, Celeste, Charley, Darcy, Della, Dora, Nellie, Rita, Verna, Adelynn, Alline, Arlie, Audrina, Ayleen, Belva, Cari, Carman, Charlee, Claira, Corrie, Dawna, Delina, Dessa, Doria, Dovie, Emalyn, Emberlee, Esta, Floy, Genia, Idella, Ivey, Lanie, Leatha, Lela, Lelia, Lennie, Letha, Lilah, Lilyann, Linnie, Lona, Lorina, Louella, Lovie, Lura, Maebelle, Maida, Mariel, Mayme, Mertie, Mozella, Neva, Ottie, Retha, Retta, Rosella, Scarlette, Tressa, Vada, Vesta, Zelda, Zena, Adalia, Ailyn, Alysse, Amor, Ardelia, Arla, Arrie, Aveline, Avie, Bari, Brina, Buelah, Camie, Carma, Carra, Ceola, Charissa, Charlsie, Chesley, Classie, Clora, Creola, Delcie, Delora, Delpha, Dori, Dreama, Eila, Elenor, Elenora, Elmira, Elta, Elzie, Emelyn, Enola, Erie, Esmae, Etha, Eudora, Floretta, Gennie, Glinda, Henretta, Idell, Jennette, Jolee, Kalista, Kateri, Laina, Launa, Laynie, Lelah, Lenna, Lillith, Loran, Lorean, Loria, Lyda, Maizy, Mallie, Manda, Maryn, Mattea, Mazie, Mica, Myrtie, Nella, Nessa, Nissa, Nori, Oneta, Peri, Raena, Rella, Rilla, Romy, Sadye, Tesa, Tona, Verdie, Vernia, Vertie, Adalaide, Adelie, Ailie, Aliene, Alynn, Anona, Anora, Ardena, Aretta, Argie, Arta, Aurie, Avaleigh, Averil, Beadie, Besse, Birda, Birdia, Bonna, Buna, Byrdie, Callee, Carita, Coni, Conni, Corley, Cyrena, Daena, Deetta, Dela, Dellar, Dicie, Docia, Dola, Donie, Doree, Dorla, Dorma, Dory, Dosha, Doshie, Drena, Elzora, Ermine, Esmee, Eulala, Evlyn, Fannye, Fronia, Fronie, Gaila, Gari, Garnetta, Ginna, Hazely, Iantha, Ireta, Izola, Janney, Jeena, Jocie, Kiri, Koral, Lanah, Landy, Lari, Lelar, Lella, Lesta, Letta, Loghan, Lore, Lota, Lovena, Luberta, Lulla, Lurena, Lyllian, Macel, Magaline, Maybel, Mela, Melana, Merla, Mertis, Myrta, Neita, Nobie, Nomi, Noni, Novie, Odetta, Olinda, Omie, Oretha, Orlean, Orlena, Pearla, Pecola, Remie, Rica, Rinda, Roena, Rosette, Samella, Shelvy, Silva, Sonna, Tally, Tava, Tela, Theora, Tinia, Tonna, Vadie, Verma, Vicie, Virdie, Vola, Willena, Adaleah, Addaline, Aelyn, Allis, Antha, Arminta, Arrietty, Aury, Aymar, Benna, Berdina, Bonnye, Briony, Capria, Caralee, Chlora, Conda, Cressie, Darcus, Dellia, Dezzie, Diora, Dore, Dura, Elery, Ellan, Eular, Evora, Fraya, Fronnie, Graciemae, Hazyl, Hermie, Ionia, Jemmie, Klaira, Larna, Lauria, Lema, Leza, Lillah, Liller, Lonia, Lorely, Lorey, Luceal, Lucindy, Lucyle, Luddie, Lydian, Maebel, Mahaley, Manila, Marelin, Marka, Maryella, Matha, Mavie, Mazelle, Mazey, Merdis, Merica, Merrin, Merryn, Monna, Morine, Murial, Natha, Necie, Nolie, Nyellie, Odella, Orena, Pairlee, Reah, Rheana, Romey, Rosslyn, Sadee, Sennie, Timi, Tiney, Veronia, Vinia, Estalene, Evanne, Laelle, Melona, Merin, Adie, Alleta, Andora, Annaka, Avalin, Berda, Bitha, Cadi, Candas, Catha, Ceci, Cele, Cenia, Cerra, Chella, Corisa, Creta, Delsa, Dicy, Donda, Dula, Dulcy, Eddis, Elowen, Estie, Ettamae, Eulamae, Floree, Francy, Idabell, Joda, Karmon, Karn, Laberta, Lacora, Lalena, Lillan, Lillar, Lineth, Lizbett, Loda, Lodie, Loella, Luvena, Madolin, Maeryn, Mally, Marren, Minie, Nary, Olenna, Orean, Ortha, Perle, Petina, Pippin, Rebie, Reona, Roda, Rosalynd, Rosemae, Rotha, Sarin, Sibley, Sinda, Suda, Tacie, Thaila, Tinya, Tressia, Tura, Valynn, Vetta, Virtie
Brothers: Leo, Oscar, Felix, Hugo, Theo, Augustus, Boyd, Connor, Duncan, Forrest, Roscoe, Al, Amias, Berton, Callan, Callum, Cassius, Cullen, Dannie, Dock, Dorsey, Earle, Gael, Gilmer, Ike, Jacory, Jed, Judd, Judson, Leander, Lon, Marlin, Norris, Olen, Orvil, Orville, Ozie, Raylan, Remy, Reynold, Tobin, Torry, Wiley, Willis, Wylie, Abbott, Aldon, Alvie, Carlis, Chancey, Coley, Corby, Curley, Daris, Earnie, Ennis, Finnick, Isom, Jayvion, Jeb, Junious, Ladd, Lamon, Leeroy, Lochlan, Loris, Macon, Maury, Mozell, Nolen, Roan, Rolla, Rustin, Tanis, Taron, Triton, Tully, Wardell, Aiven, Alven, Arvie, Arville, Balin, Barnie, Buren, Captain, Cashius, Caston, Cleotha, Clide, Colbert, Curren, Curvin, Darrow, Darwyn, Dawon, Dolton, Earley, Erby, Erroll, Evertt, Ezzard, Finneas, Gable, Garin, Hadyn, Harve, Hassel, Homar, Horton, Izell, Kerby, Koran, Lillard, Loney, Macoy, Maynor, Nevan, Oddie, Olie, Orien, Orlo, Orris, Ramzy, Rayland, Rockey, Roen, Rube, Ruffin, Tosh, Varian, Virgel, Wil, Aiken, Aldan, Alvy, Ansen, Bartlett, Beuford, Birt, Bowyn, Carden, Dalbert, Delmore, Delmus, Dorean, Dorwin, Eldin, Erlin, Farron, Ferdie, Ferman, Fillmore, Findlay, Firman, Hartwell, Jamason, Janssen, Jarvin, Kizer, Laymon, Macari, Mingo, Nolyn, Phelix, Quentyn, Solan, Tedric, Torris, Trampus, Elman, Jewett, Meric, Aadan, Adrick, Andric, Argyle, Arrian, Barlow, Bartow, Bazil, Bellemy, Biran, Bohannon, Boykin, Broghan, Callin, Chisum, Claudy, Cortlan, Cotey, Daschel, Deran, Deveron, Dorrance, Doryan, Earon, Evart, Forney, Gilliam, Goble, Halton, Harl, Hoss, Jago, Karmine, Larz, Leelynd, Lowen, Lyall, Mavin, Merric, Mory, Neldon, Orlander, Orvie, Rastus, Renton, Robey, Tellis, Toben, Vanden
Names like Cora
Names whose popularity has moved with Cora's over the last 50 years.

