MallowbyNames

Cora

KOR-uh · Maiden or daughter.

2025 rank (girls)
#113
Babies named in 2025
2,428
Peak popularity
1880
2025 frequency
1 in 662 girls
Usually for
Girls
Trend
Declining since 2018

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.

1.2k2.4k3.6k1880192019602000Most births 2019Girls
Data table (by decade)
DecadeGirls
1880s11,954
1890s12,880
1900s10,372
1910s15,317
1920s16,161
1930s11,253
1940s8,749
1950s5,869
1960s3,393
1970s2,093
1980s2,224
1990s3,323
2000s7,745
2010s27,816
2020s16,879

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.

2020s
Fewermore per 100k girlstoo few 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

Variants: Kora, Corah, Corra

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.

A parent animal hugging its little one, the personalized name page

C is for Cora, our favorite little girl.

C is for Cora…”

In a Mallowby alphabet book, Cora's letter becomes Cora's page: hand-illustrated, printed hardcover or paperback, made just for them.

Make Cora's book

Books for siblings or grandkids? The second book is 15% off.

Questions parents ask

What does the name Cora mean?
Cora means "maiden" or "daughter" and comes from the Greek word "kore."
How popular is the name Cora currently?
As of 2025, Cora ranks 113th in the United States, with approximately 1 in every 662 baby girls given that name.
Is Cora a boy or girl name?
Cora is almost exclusively used as a girl's name.