Fun Facts About the Name Kory
- More than 15 thousand babies named Kory: U.S. records list 15,725 babies given the name Kory from 1880 through 2025. Even 1,340 girls received the name Kory - about 1 girl for every 11 boys.
What Does the Name Kory Mean?
Kory is a spelling variant of Cory, which comes from the English and Irish surname Corey. Because the surname arose independently in more than one place, the name does not have a single settled meaning.
In Ireland, the surname Ó Comhraidhe was anglicized as Corey, Cory, and Corry. It means "descendant of Comhraidhe," a personal name whose own meaning has not been established.
A separate, topographical origin is Scottish. The Gaelic word coire means "cauldron" or "hollow, circular valley," and it gives the Scottish place name Corrie and the surnames Corrie, Corry, and sometimes Corey. In that strand of the name, the sense is a person who lived at such a hollow.
The surname also appears in England, where it is of Norman and Norse background, from a personal name recorded as Cor or Kori, used as a short form or byname. The Greek name Kore (Κόρη), meaning "maiden" and used as a title for Persephone, looks similar but is a different name; any link to Kory is a symbolic association rather than the name's actual origin.
Kory Name History & Origins
Kory belongs to a group of spellings that includes Cory, Corey, Cori, Corrie, and Kori. Cory and Corey were surnames in England and Ireland well before they were used as first names. Irish families bearing Ó Comhraidhe anglicized that name in various ways over the centuries, and English families recorded as Cor, Corey, or Corry passed the surname down in the same way.
Cory and its variants began to be used as given names in the United States and other English-speaking countries in the twentieth century, part of a wider fashion for using surnames as first names. The K spelling Kory is a later variation of Cory, matching spellings such as Kori. As a first name it remains far less common than Corey or Cory.
How Popular is the Name Kory?
Kory recorded its highest annual U.S. birth count in 1989. Its best rank was #360 in 1988.
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.
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #9,800 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 2024 | #9,236 | 11 | 0.0007% |
| 2023 | #11,727 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 2022 | #8,289 | 13 | 0.0008% |
| 2021 | #9,966 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 2020 | #8,207 | 13 | 0.0008% |
| 2019 | #13,164 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2018 | #9,508 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 2017 | #11,189 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 2016 | #5,894 | 22 | 0.0012% |
| 2015 | #6,864 | 18 | 0.0010% |
| 2014 | #8,304 | 14 | 0.0008% |
| 2013 | #9,339 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 2012 | #12,857 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 2011 | #11,716 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 2010 | #16,065 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2009 | #14,527 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2008 | #16,541 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2007 | #9,303 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 2006 | #11,967 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 2005 | #9,184 | 12 | 0.0006% |
| 2004 | #9,002 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 2003 | #8,805 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 2002 | #8,570 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 2001 | #7,151 | 15 | 0.0008% |
| 2000 | #8,310 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 1999 | #6,347 | 16 | 0.0009% |
| 1998 | #4,308 | 26 | 0.0015% |
| 1997 | #4,746 | 22 | 0.0013% |
| 1996 | #4,520 | 23 | 0.0013% |
| 1995 | #3,933 | 27 | 0.0015% |
| 1994 | #3,339 | 34 | 0.0019% |
| 1993 | #3,832 | 28 | 0.0015% |
| 1992 | #3,540 | 31 | 0.0017% |
| 1991 | #3,404 | 32 | 0.0017% |
| 1990 | #3,759 | 28 | 0.0015% |
| 1989 | #2,350 | 50 | 0.0027% |
| 1988 | #3,638 | 26 | 0.0015% |
| 1987 | #2,372 | 44 | 0.0025% |
| 1986 | #2,159 | 49 | 0.0029% |
| 1985 | #3,044 | 30 | 0.0017% |
| 1984 | #2,592 | 36 | 0.0021% |
| 1983 | #3,384 | 24 | 0.0014% |
| 1982 | #2,799 | 33 | 0.0019% |
| 1981 | #3,183 | 27 | 0.0016% |
| 1980 | #2,829 | 32 | 0.0019% |
| 1979 | #2,231 | 44 | 0.0027% |
| 1978 | #2,650 | 32 | 0.0021% |
| 1977 | #2,322 | 39 | 0.0025% |
| 1976 | #2,358 | 35 | 0.0024% |
| 1975 | #2,336 | 35 | 0.0024% |
| 1974 | #2,954 | 24 | 0.0016% |
| 1973 | #2,787 | 25 | 0.0017% |
| 1972 | #2,483 | 29 | 0.0019% |
| 1971 | #3,433 | 19 | 0.0011% |
| 1970 | #4,141 | 14 | 0.0008% |
| 1969 | #2,670 | 25 | 0.0015% |
| 1968 | #3,693 | 14 | 0.0009% |
| 1967 | #4,169 | 11 | 0.0007% |
| 1965 | #5,052 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 1964 | #3,980 | 12 | 0.0006% |
| 1963 | #3,535 | 14 | 0.0007% |
| 1962 | #3,679 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 1961 | #3,892 | 12 | 0.0006% |
| 1959 | #3,342 | 14 | 0.0007% |
| 1958 | #5,762 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1957 | #5,750 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #3,352 | 35 | 0.0020% |
| 2024 | #2,972 | 42 | 0.0024% |
| 2023 | #2,716 | 48 | 0.0028% |
| 2022 | #2,306 | 62 | 0.0036% |
| 2021 | #2,754 | 46 | 0.0026% |
| 2020 | #2,489 | 52 | 0.0030% |
| 2019 | #2,349 | 58 | 0.0032% |
| 2018 | #2,563 | 50 | 0.0028% |
| 2017 | #2,119 | 65 | 0.0035% |
| 2016 | #2,002 | 72 | 0.0038% |
| 2015 | #1,812 | 83 | 0.0043% |
| 2014 | #1,934 | 75 | 0.0039% |
| 2013 | #1,891 | 75 | 0.0040% |
| 2012 | #1,975 | 72 | 0.0038% |
| 2011 | #1,726 | 86 | 0.0045% |
| 2010 | #1,824 | 80 | 0.0042% |
| 2009 | #1,648 | 96 | 0.0048% |
| 2008 | #1,420 | 119 | 0.0058% |
| 2007 | #1,347 | 125 | 0.0060% |
| 2006 | #1,211 | 139 | 0.0068% |
| 2005 | #1,071 | 155 | 0.0078% |
| 2004 | #1,109 | 143 | 0.0072% |
| 2003 | #964 | 169 | 0.0086% |
| 2002 | #975 | 162 | 0.0083% |
| 2001 | #811 | 207 | 0.0107% |
| 2000 | #733 | 234 | 0.0119% |
| 1999 | #689 | 245 | 0.0128% |
| 1998 | #623 | 295 | 0.0154% |
| 1997 | #585 | 311 | 0.0165% |
| 1996 | #558 | 331 | 0.0175% |
| 1995 | #529 | 365 | 0.0192% |
| 1994 | #504 | 403 | 0.0209% |
| 1993 | #483 | 435 | 0.0222% |
| 1992 | #471 | 459 | 0.0230% |
| 1991 | #403 | 565 | 0.0280% |
| 1990 | #388 | 598 | 0.0291% |
| 1989 | #373 | 601 | 0.0300% |
| 1988 | #360 | 568 | 0.0297% |
| 1987 | #371 | 518 | 0.0277% |
| 1986 | #396 | 457 | 0.0248% |
| 1985 | #425 | 410 | 0.0222% |
| 1984 | #458 | 337 | 0.0187% |
| 1983 | #472 | 314 | 0.0175% |
| 1982 | #475 | 317 | 0.0175% |
| 1981 | #466 | 320 | 0.0179% |
| 1980 | #472 | 317 | 0.0178% |
| 1979 | #475 | 300 | 0.0174% |
| 1978 | #462 | 303 | 0.0185% |
| 1977 | #434 | 335 | 0.0204% |
| 1976 | #479 | 275 | 0.0175% |
| 1975 | #502 | 254 | 0.0163% |
| 1974 | #530 | 226 | 0.0144% |
| 1973 | #557 | 203 | 0.0130% |
| 1972 | #558 | 206 | 0.0127% |
| 1971 | #564 | 207 | 0.0117% |
| 1970 | #547 | 221 | 0.0119% |
| 1969 | #543 | 208 | 0.0116% |
| 1968 | #691 | 120 | 0.0069% |
| 1967 | #779 | 88 | 0.0050% |
| 1966 | #833 | 77 | 0.0043% |
| 1965 | #729 | 105 | 0.0056% |
| 1964 | #892 | 73 | 0.0037% |
| 1963 | #847 | 80 | 0.0039% |
| 1962 | #864 | 77 | 0.0037% |
| 1961 | #956 | 65 | 0.0031% |
| 1960 | #977 | 61 | 0.0029% |
| 1959 | #1,147 | 46 | 0.0022% |
| 1958 | #1,166 | 44 | 0.0021% |
| 1957 | #1,309 | 36 | 0.0017% |
| 1956 | #1,666 | 23 | 0.0011% |
| 1955 | #2,098 | 15 | 0.0007% |
| 1954 | #2,858 | 9 | 0.0004% |
| 1953 | #3,276 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1952 | #4,022 | 5 | 0.0003% |
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.
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How the Name Kory Shapes Your Personality and Life?
EXTREMES in fortune, health and spirituality. You are very versatile, idealistic and intuitive. You either enjoy great success or suffer abject misery. The solution is service to others. Use your leadership abilities for humanity and not for self-glorification. You are frank, methodical and believe in law, system and order.
You find the best contentment in life when you own your own home and provide well for your family and loved ones. You have a great sense of responsibility and duty. You are comforting, appreciative and affectionate. Your obligation in life is to hold justice and truth, and if you follow the Law, you can find the great happiness and satisfaction.
✦ Kory's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Kory's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.