Cory Unisex
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: KOR-ee //ˈkɔːri//
Origin: Irish; Greek
Meaning: Irish: 'from the hollow'; Greek: 'the chosen one'
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Cory has its roots in the ancient Greek word "korys," which means "helmet" or "hollow." This term evolved through various forms, eventually leading to the Latin "Corylus," which refers to the hazel tree. The transition into English occurred through Old French, where the name was adopted as "Cory" or "Coryn," and it became more widely recognized in the English-speaking world during the medieval period.
Historically, the name Cory has been associated with several notable figures and cultural references. In the context of literature, Cory is often linked to the pastoral poetry of the Renaissance, where it was used as a poetic persona.
The name appears in works such as Edmund Spenser's "The Shepheard's Calendar" from the late 16th century, where Cory is depicted as a shepherd, symbolizing innocence and pastoral beauty. Additionally, the name has been used in various forms of art and literature throughout the centuries, contributing to its cultural resonance.
Cory has also been associated with various saints and religious figures, particularly in Christian traditions. The name is sometimes linked to Saint Corbinian, a 7th-century bishop and missionary in Bavaria, whose influence helped spread Christianity in the region.
This connection to religious figures has imbued the name with a sense of historical significance and reverence. In terms of symbolic associations, the name Cory evokes themes of nature and simplicity, often linked to pastoral and rural life.
The diminutive form "Cory" has been used affectionately in various cultures, enhancing its appeal and familiarity. Overall, the name Cory carries a rich historical and cultural legacy, reflecting its linguistic roots and the various contexts in which it has been employed throughout history.
Famous people named Cory
In this section, you will find notable people named Cory. 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 Cory who have made a significant impact on popular culture.
We also feature individuals named Cory 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.
Cory Monteith was an actor best known for his role as Finn Hudson on Glee.
Cory Schneider is a professional ice hockey player best known for playing as a goaltender in the NHL.
Cory Doctorow is an author and activist best known for his novels Little Brother, Homeland, and his work on digital rights.
Cory Lidle was a professional baseball player best known for his time with the New York Yankees and Philadelphia Phillies.
Fictional characters named Cory
The following list of fictional characters named Cory 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.
Cory 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 with his friends and family.
Cory Baxter is a fictional character from the TV series Cory in the House. He is a teenager who moves to Washington, D.C. to live in the White House with his father, the President's chef.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Cory, 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 Cory. 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 Cory was first seen in the United States in 1924.
Cory has ranked as high as #116 nationally, which occurred in 1989, and has been most popular in California, Ohio, New York, Pennsylvania, and Illinois.
In the past 5 years the name Cory has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Cory 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 Cory was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.
Top States for Cory (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 | 18 | |
| TX | 17 | |
| FL | 14 | |
| OH | 14 | |
| NY | 10 | |
| NC | 9 | |
| GA | 8 | |
| IN | 6 | |
| MO | 6 | |
| WA | 6 | |
| MS | 5 | |
| WI | 5 | |
| PA | 5 | |
| MA | 5 | |
| TN | 5 |
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 Cory.
| Year | Births |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 197 |
| 2023 | 174 |
| 2022 | 182 |
| 2021 | 221 |
| 2020 | 245 |
| 2019 | 244 |
| 2018 | 242 |
| 2017 | 301 |
| 2016 | 320 |
| 2015 | 341 |
| 2014 | 357 |
| 2013 | 377 |
| 2012 | 372 |
| 2011 | 362 |
| 2010 | 438 |
| 2009 | 544 |
| 2008 | 608 |
| 2007 | 706 |
| 2006 | 653 |
| 2005 | 773 |
| 2004 | 817 |
| 2003 | 924 |
| 2002 | 1,119 |
| 2001 | 1,263 |
| 2000 | 1,496 |
| 1999 | 1,704 |
| 1998 | 2,075 |
| 1997 | 2,083 |
| 1996 | 2,446 |
| 1995 | 3,010 |
| 1994 | 3,529 |
| 1993 | 3,997 |
| 1992 | 4,436 |
| 1991 | 5,121 |
| 1990 | 5,765 |
| 1989 | 6,450 |
| 1988 | 6,267 |
| 1987 | 5,849 |
| 1986 | 4,871 |
| 1985 | 3,868 |
| 1984 | 3,505 |
| 1983 | 3,403 |
| 1982 | 3,237 |
| 1981 | 3,355 |
| 1980 | 3,556 |
| 1979 | 3,587 |
| 1978 | 3,843 |
| 1977 | 4,257 |
| 1976 | 3,183 |
| 1975 | 2,573 |
| 1974 | 2,329 |
| 1973 | 2,034 |
| 1972 | 1,957 |
| 1971 | 1,986 |
| 1970 | 1,762 |
| 1969 | 1,783 |
| 1968 | 717 |
| 1967 | 438 |
| 1966 | 444 |
| 1965 | 450 |
| 1964 | 430 |
| 1963 | 394 |
| 1962 | 441 |
| 1961 | 446 |
| 1960 | 353 |
| 1959 | 311 |
| 1958 | 282 |
| 1957 | 284 |
| 1956 | 184 |
| 1955 | 209 |
| 1954 | 139 |
| 1953 | 63 |
| 1952 | 46 |
| 1951 | 63 |
| 1950 | 46 |
| 1949 | 26 |
| 1948 | 26 |
| 1947 | 25 |
| 1946 | 17 |
| 1945 | 31 |
| 1944 | 17 |
| 1943 | 14 |
| 1942 | 13 |
| 1941 | 5 |
| 1936 | 5 |
| 1924 | 7 |