Corey Unisex

Popularity: #564 · Trend: ↘ Falling

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
13%
TX 42
12%
FL 22
6%
NY 20
6%
GA 20
6%
NC 16
5%
IN 14
4%
OH 14
4%
MI 14
4%
VA 13
4%
PA 12
4%
MO 12
4%
LA 11
3%
OK 11
3%
MA 10
3%

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.

YearBirths
2024402
2023427
2022437
2021517
2020538
2019585
2018623
2017649
2016770
2015754
2014809
2013879
2012880
20111,027
20101,011
20091,124
20081,183
20071,403
20061,534
20051,705
20041,674
20031,887
20022,105
20012,245
20002,607
19992,827
19983,201
19973,416
19964,087
19954,976
19945,279
19935,674
19926,140
19916,930
19907,691
19898,004
19887,330
19876,443
19865,762
19855,230
19844,244
19833,967
19823,939
19814,247
19804,438
19794,737
19784,942
19776,040
19764,433
19753,876
19743,381
19733,019
19722,991
19713,766
19703,813
19694,925
19681,577
1967466
1966465
1965505
1964458
1963427
1962437
1961405
1960304
1959295
1958295
1957261
1956294
1955252
1954149
195380
1952105
195167
195058
194949
194837
194720
194620
194521
194420
194322
194227
19407
19399
19376
19285
19266
19255
19215
19195