Coretta Girl
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: ko-RET-uh /kəˈrɛtə/
Origin: Latin; English
Meaning: Latin: strong; English: little heart
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Coretta is believed to have originated from the Italian name "Corinna," which itself is derived from the Greek name "Korinna," meaning "maiden" or "girl." The Greek root "kore" translates to "daughter" or "girl," reflecting a sense of youth and femininity. The name made its way into English through various linguistic adaptations, particularly during the Renaissance when classical names were revived and adapted into vernacular forms.
The transition from Greek to Italian and then into English illustrates the broader cultural exchanges that occurred in Europe, especially during the periods of increased trade and scholarship. Historically, the name Coretta gained prominence in the 20th century, particularly associated with Coretta Scott King, the wife of civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr.
Born in 1927, she played a significant role in the civil rights movement and was instrumental in advocating for social justice and equality. Her contributions to American history and culture have imbued the name with a sense of strength and resilience, linking it to themes of activism and social change.
The name's association with such a prominent figure has helped to solidify its place in the cultural consciousness. Culturally, Coretta resonates with themes of empowerment and advocacy, reflecting the legacy of its most notable bearer.
The name evokes a sense of dignity and purpose, often associated with leadership and commitment to social causes. While diminutive forms such as "Cori" may be used informally, the full name Coretta carries a weight of historical significance that has contributed to its enduring presence in various contexts.
Overall, the name encapsulates a rich tapestry of linguistic evolution, historical milestones, and cultural resonance.
Famous people named Coretta
In this section, you will find notable people named Coretta. We include individuals across a wide range of fields, including actors known for their work in film, television, and stage productions. You'll also find musicians, directors, and other public figures named Coretta who have made a significant impact on popular culture.
We also feature individuals named Coretta who have made meaningful contributions to science, politics, athletics, literature, and other areas of public interest.
Please note that not every baby name in our database currently has a famous namesake listed. If you would like to suggest a name we may have missed or submit a correction, feel free to contact us. We review and finalize additions and corrections within 24 hours.
Coretta Scott King is an author and civil rights activist best known for her work with the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, her advocacy for Martin Luther King Jr.'s legacy, and her role in the civil rights movement.
Fictional characters named Coretta
The following list of fictional characters named Coretta is a work in progress. If you would like to suggest an additional character, please send us the character's name along with a brief, one-sentence description of what they are best known for.
You may also submit corrections, which we will review and update as quickly as possible.
Coretta Scott King is a fictional character from the animated film Selma: The Bridge to the Ballot. She is portrayed as a strong and supportive figure in the civil rights movement, emphasizing the importance of her husband's legacy.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Coretta, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.
Similar names
Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Coretta. These names can serve as alternatives to the sibling suggestions listed above and may help you find the perfect complementary name for your growing family.
U.S. Historical Usage
The name Coretta was first seen in the United States in 1909.
Coretta has ranked as high as #928 nationally, which occurred in 1968, and has been most popular in Georgia, Mississippi, Alabama, Florida, and South Carolina.
In the past 5 years the name Coretta has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Coretta is part of our comprehensive baby names database, which includes Social Security Administration (SSA) data dating back to 1880—the first official year of state and national tracking. The chart below shows when Coretta was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.
Popularity Over Time (National) — Table
We track the national popularity of each baby name annually. The table below displays each year along with the number of births reported by the Social Security Administration. This data combines all state-level reporting from the SSA's baby names database to provide a comprehensive view of overall birth counts for Coretta.
| Year | Total Births | Girl |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 5 | 5 |
| 2022 | 7 | 7 |
| 2021 | 12 | 12 |
| 2020 | 12 | 12 |
| 2019 | 14 | 14 |
| 2018 | 18 | 18 |
| 2017 | 11 | 11 |
| 2016 | 8 | 8 |
| 2015 | 15 | 15 |
| 2014 | 8 | 8 |
| 2013 | 5 | 5 |
| 2011 | 5 | 5 |
| 2010 | 5 | 5 |
| 2008 | 6 | 6 |
| 2007 | 10 | 10 |
| 2006 | 13 | 13 |
| 2005 | 6 | 6 |
| 2003 | 7 | 7 |
| 2000 | 8 | 8 |
| 1999 | 5 | 5 |
| 1998 | 7 | 7 |
| 1997 | 6 | 6 |
| 1996 | 6 | 6 |
| 1995 | 12 | 12 |
| 1994 | 15 | 15 |
| 1993 | 21 | 21 |
| 1992 | 17 | 17 |
| 1991 | 15 | 15 |
| 1990 | 23 | 23 |
| 1989 | 32 | 32 |
| 1988 | 32 | 32 |
| 1987 | 39 | 39 |
| 1986 | 43 | 43 |
| 1985 | 28 | 28 |
| 1984 | 28 | 28 |
| 1983 | 40 | 40 |
| 1982 | 39 | 39 |
| 1981 | 44 | 44 |
| 1980 | 59 | 59 |
| 1979 | 59 | 59 |
| 1978 | 49 | 49 |
| 1977 | 38 | 38 |
| 1976 | 62 | 62 |
| 1975 | 44 | 44 |
| 1974 | 66 | 66 |
| 1973 | 53 | 53 |
| 1972 | 82 | 82 |
| 1971 | 93 | 93 |
| 1970 | 146 | 146 |
| 1969 | 194 | 194 |
| 1968 | 336 | 336 |
| 1967 | 13 | 13 |
| 1966 | 16 | 16 |
| 1965 | 18 | 18 |
| 1964 | 9 | 9 |
| 1963 | 18 | 18 |
| 1962 | 10 | 10 |
| 1961 | 13 | 13 |
| 1960 | 16 | 16 |
| 1959 | 17 | 17 |
| 1958 | 14 | 14 |
| 1957 | 18 | 18 |
| 1956 | 21 | 21 |
| 1955 | 13 | 13 |
| 1954 | 14 | 14 |
| 1953 | 6 | 6 |
| 1952 | 8 | 8 |
| 1951 | 7 | 7 |
| 1950 | 12 | 12 |
| 1949 | 10 | 10 |
| 1948 | 12 | 12 |
| 1947 | 10 | 10 |
| 1946 | 8 | 8 |
| 1945 | 7 | 7 |
| 1944 | 7 | 7 |
| 1943 | 8 | 8 |
| 1942 | 10 | 10 |
| 1941 | 8 | 8 |
| 1940 | 5 | 5 |
| 1939 | 10 | 10 |
| 1938 | 11 | 11 |
| 1937 | 12 | 12 |
| 1936 | 9 | 9 |
| 1935 | 6 | 6 |
| 1934 | 9 | 9 |
| 1933 | 6 | 6 |
| 1932 | 6 | 6 |
| 1931 | 13 | 13 |
| 1930 | 9 | 9 |
| 1929 | 9 | 9 |
| 1927 | 7 | 7 |
| 1926 | 8 | 8 |
| 1925 | 7 | 7 |
| 1924 | 5 | 5 |
| 1922 | 5 | 5 |
| 1921 | 11 | 11 |
| 1920 | 5 | 5 |
| 1919 | 8 | 8 |
| 1918 | 10 | 10 |
| 1917 | 6 | 6 |
| 1916 | 5 | 5 |
| 1913 | 7 | 7 |
| 1910 | 5 | 5 |
| 1909 | 8 | 8 |
Top States for Coretta (1990)
We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. The table below shows the five states with the highest number of births for this name in the selected year. Use the toggle to expand the list to every state with reported births.
| State | Births | Share |
|---|---|---|
| NY | 6 |