Korban

Meaning & origin

Korban is a modern name that first entered U.S. birth records in 1993, a time when new coinages ending in -an were gaining popularity. It reached its peak rank in 2017 but has been declining in use since then, reflecting a broader trend away from some of the early 2010s invented names. As of 2025, the name is extremely rare, with an incidence of roughly 1 in 213,510 births. Unlike its likely model Corbin, which has a long history as a surname, Korban has no recorded use before the late 20th century. Its spelling echoes the biblical term korban, but given the modern origin and lack of historical usage in any language, this connection is likely coincidental. The name remains primarily a boy's name and has not appeared among any top state lists. Its appeal lies in its similarity to familiar names like Corbin and Karson while offering a distinctive spelling and phonetic punch.

Korban first appeared in U.S. birth records in 1993, coinciding with the rise of invented names using the popular -an suffix. It may have been inspired by the surname Corbin (from Old French corb, 'crow') or by the Hebrew word korban (sacrifice), which appears in the Bible. However, there is no direct evidence linking the name to any traditional naming practice. Its usage peaked in 2017 and has since declined.