Corey Unisex
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: KOR-ee //ˈkɔːri//
Origin: Irish; English
Meaning: Irish: 'from the hollow'; English: 'dweller near a marsh'
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Corey has its roots in the Gaelic language, deriving from the Irish surname "Ó Comhraidhe," which means "descendant of Comhraidhe." The original Gaelic name is thought to be derived from the word "comhraidhe," meaning "hollow" or "a place of the hollow," referring to a geographical feature. This name transitioned into the Anglicized form Corey as it was adopted into English-speaking cultures, particularly in Ireland and later in the United States during the 19th century, when many Irish names were anglicized for ease of pronunciation and integration into English society.
Historically, the name Corey has been associated with various notable figures and events. It appears in records from the medieval period, particularly in Ireland, where surnames began to be used more consistently.
The name gained further recognition through its use in literature and popular culture, although specific milestones are less documented compared to more prominent names. The name's presence in the United States became more pronounced in the 20th century, reflecting broader trends of name adaptation and cultural exchange.
Culturally, Corey has been embraced in various contexts, often symbolizing strength and resilience, traits that resonate with its Gaelic origins. The name has been used in literature and media, contributing to its enduring appeal.
Additionally, diminutive forms such as "Cory" have emerged, further enriching the name's legacy. Overall, Corey reflects a blend of linguistic heritage and cultural significance, maintaining its relevance through historical and contemporary narratives.
Famous people named Corey
In this section, you will find notable people named Corey. 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 Corey who have made a significant impact on popular culture.
We also feature individuals named Corey 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.
Corey Feldman is an actor and musician best known for The Goonies, Stand by Me, and The Lost Boys.
Corey Taylor is a musician best known as the lead vocalist of Slipknot and Stone Sour.
Corey Stoll is an actor best known for House of Cards, Ant-Man, and The Strain.
Corey Haim was an actor best known for The Lost Boys, License to Drive, and Dream a Little Dream.
Corey Davis is a professional football player best known for playing as a wide receiver in the NFL.
Fictional characters named Corey
The following list of fictional characters named Corey 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.
Corey Matthews is a fictional character from the TV series Boy Meets World. He is the main protagonist who navigates the challenges of adolescence and young adulthood alongside his friends and family.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Corey, 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 Corey. 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 Corey was first seen in the United States in 1919.
Corey has ranked as high as #95 nationally, which occurred in 1989, and has been most popular in California, New York, Florida, Ohio, and Pennsylvania.
In the past 5 years the name Corey has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Corey 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 Corey was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.
Top States for Corey (2024)
We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. In some cases, you may see four or five states listed. However, we only display states where the name represents a significant percentage of births, so the number of states shown can range from one to several.
| State | Births | Share |
|---|---|---|
| CA | 44 | |
| TX | 42 | |
| FL | 22 | |
| NY | 20 | |
| GA | 20 | |
| NC | 16 | |
| IN | 14 | |
| OH | 14 | |
| MI | 14 | |
| VA | 13 | |
| PA | 12 | |
| MO | 12 | |
| LA | 11 | |
| OK | 11 | |
| MA | 10 |
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 Corey.
| Year | Births |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 402 |
| 2023 | 427 |
| 2022 | 437 |
| 2021 | 517 |
| 2020 | 538 |
| 2019 | 585 |
| 2018 | 623 |
| 2017 | 649 |
| 2016 | 770 |
| 2015 | 754 |
| 2014 | 809 |
| 2013 | 879 |
| 2012 | 880 |
| 2011 | 1,027 |
| 2010 | 1,011 |
| 2009 | 1,124 |
| 2008 | 1,183 |
| 2007 | 1,403 |
| 2006 | 1,534 |
| 2005 | 1,705 |
| 2004 | 1,674 |
| 2003 | 1,887 |
| 2002 | 2,105 |
| 2001 | 2,245 |
| 2000 | 2,607 |
| 1999 | 2,827 |
| 1998 | 3,201 |
| 1997 | 3,416 |
| 1996 | 4,087 |
| 1995 | 4,976 |
| 1994 | 5,279 |
| 1993 | 5,674 |
| 1992 | 6,140 |
| 1991 | 6,930 |
| 1990 | 7,691 |
| 1989 | 8,004 |
| 1988 | 7,330 |
| 1987 | 6,443 |
| 1986 | 5,762 |
| 1985 | 5,230 |
| 1984 | 4,244 |
| 1983 | 3,967 |
| 1982 | 3,939 |
| 1981 | 4,247 |
| 1980 | 4,438 |
| 1979 | 4,737 |
| 1978 | 4,942 |
| 1977 | 6,040 |
| 1976 | 4,433 |
| 1975 | 3,876 |
| 1974 | 3,381 |
| 1973 | 3,019 |
| 1972 | 2,991 |
| 1971 | 3,766 |
| 1970 | 3,813 |
| 1969 | 4,925 |
| 1968 | 1,577 |
| 1967 | 466 |
| 1966 | 465 |
| 1965 | 505 |
| 1964 | 458 |
| 1963 | 427 |
| 1962 | 437 |
| 1961 | 405 |
| 1960 | 304 |
| 1959 | 295 |
| 1958 | 295 |
| 1957 | 261 |
| 1956 | 294 |
| 1955 | 252 |
| 1954 | 149 |
| 1953 | 80 |
| 1952 | 105 |
| 1951 | 67 |
| 1950 | 58 |
| 1949 | 49 |
| 1948 | 37 |
| 1947 | 20 |
| 1946 | 20 |
| 1945 | 21 |
| 1944 | 20 |
| 1943 | 22 |
| 1942 | 27 |
| 1940 | 7 |
| 1939 | 9 |
| 1937 | 6 |
| 1928 | 5 |
| 1926 | 6 |
| 1925 | 5 |
| 1921 | 5 |
| 1919 | 5 |