seven reflections
Login
Cory Name Meaning, Origins & History

Cory

Pronunciation: KOR-ee

Meaning Curly-haired; descendant of Comhraidhe Origin Spanish, surnames Gender Boy
BOYS RANK
#1,245
TREND
152
GIRLS RANK
#7,576
TREND
602
Peak Years
1989, 1988, 1987
Lowest Years
1936, 1941, 1924
Energy Archetype
Cheerful & Expressive

Rank shows the name’s position among U.S. baby names for each gender in 2025. Trend shows how many places it rose or fell since 2024. Rank 1 is the most popular. Based on U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA) data. Peak and lowest years are based on the number of boys named Cory in the available records.

Fun Facts About the Name Cory

  • More than 133 thousand babies named Cory: U.S. records list 133,782 babies given the name Cory from 1880 through 2025. Even 6,599 girls received the name Cory - about 1 girl for every 19 boys.

What Does the Name Cory Mean?

Cory is an English given name that comes from the surname Corey, also spelled Cory. The surname has more than one origin. In one origin it is an anglicized form of the Irish Gaelic surname Ó Comhraidhe, which means "descendant of Comhraidhe." Comhraidhe is an old personal name of uncertain meaning; it is sometimes connected with the Irish word comhradh, "conversation," but that link is not certain. In another origin the surname comes from the Old Norse personal name Kori, a byname often explained as "curly-haired." Cory is also used as a short form of Cornelius, a name from a Roman family name. The literal meaning of Cory therefore depends on which origin is meant.

Cory Name History & Origins

The Irish surname Ó Comhraidhe belongs to the Gaelic naming tradition, in which Ó means "descendant of." It was carried by an Irish family and was anglicized over time in different spellings, including Corey, Corry, and Cory. The English surname Corey also appears in medieval England, where it could come from the Old Norse personal name Kori; Norse settlers brought many such personal names into northern and eastern England. The surname later spread to North America and other English-speaking countries.

As a given name, Cory is a transferred use of the surname. It also has an independent use as a short form of Cornelius. Cory is used as a masculine given name in English-speaking countries, and it has occasionally been used for girls. A well-known literary use is the title character of Edwin Arlington Robinson's 1897 poem "Richard Cory," though that is a use of the surname Cory, not the origin of the given name.

How Popular is the Name Cory?

Cory recorded its highest annual U.S. birth count in 1989. Cory entered the top 100 U.S. boy names in 1975.

U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.

Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.

Explore More Lists with Name Cory

Most Popular Boy Names That Start with C

See List of Most Popular Boy Names Starting with C

Short Boy Names That Start with C

Discover Short Boy Names Starting with C

How the Name Cory Shapes Your Personality and Life?

You are cheerful and friendly, but are apt to have an emotional life. You like to have several lines of effort going at once. You are a good talker and promoter and seldom worry over anything. At times, you can be impatient, and impulsive. You have the ability to bring an idea to completion. You can express yourself joyously and constructively. You might be psychic, but not know it. You are frank, methodical and believe in law, system and order.

You are very intuitive. You have a reservoir of inspired wisdom combined with inherited analytical ability, which could reward you through expressions of spiritual leadership, business analysis, marketing, artistic visions, and scientific research. Operating on spiritual side of your individuality can bring you to the great heights, and drop you off if you neglect your spiritual identity. You are always looking for an opportunity to investigate the unknown, to use and show your mental abilities, to find the purpose and meaning of life. You want to grow wise and to understand people and things. You need privacy to replenish your energy. You have a unique way of thinking, intuitive, reflective, absorbing.

✦ Cory's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Cory's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.
Explore Insights & Tips

Name Search