Cory Boy

Popularity: #778 · Trend: ↘ Falling

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 #117 nationally, which occurred in 1989, and has been most popular in California, Texas, Ohio, New York, and Pennsylvania.

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.

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 Total Births Boy Girl
2025 174 160 14
2024 213 197 16
2023 187 174 13
2022 205 182 23
2021 234 221 13
2020 256 245 11
2019 254 244 10
2018 251 242 9
2017 316 301 15
2016 334 320 14
2015 352 341 11
2014 367 357 10
2013 390 377 13
2012 386 373 13
2011 377 362 15
2010 456 438 18
2009 559 544 15
2008 630 608 22
2007 728 706 22
2006 672 653 19
2005 791 773 18
2004 832 817 15
2003 949 924 25
2002 1,149 1,119 30
2001 1,296 1,263 33
2000 1,531 1,496 35
1999 1,759 1,704 55
1998 2,130 2,075 55
1997 2,152 2,083 69
1996 2,523 2,446 77
1995 3,110 3,010 100
1994 3,637 3,529 108
1993 4,132 3,997 135
1992 4,606 4,436 170
1991 5,279 5,121 158
1990 5,957 5,765 192
1989 6,660 6,450 210
1988 6,472 6,266 206
1987 6,059 5,849 210
1986 5,131 4,871 260
1985 4,052 3,868 184
1984 3,720 3,505 215
1983 3,587 3,404 183
1982 3,414 3,237 177
1981 3,565 3,352 213
1980 3,769 3,556 213
1979 3,827 3,587 240
1978 4,125 3,842 283
1977 4,530 4,259 271
1976 3,425 3,182 243
1975 2,795 2,573 222
1974 2,503 2,328 175
1973 2,193 2,034 159
1972 2,102 1,957 145
1971 2,087 1,985 102
1970 1,865 1,762 103
1969 1,874 1,783 91
1968 778 717 61
1967 485 438 47
1966 479 444 35
1965 491 450 41
1964 485 430 55
1963 465 394 71
1962 518 441 77
1961 515 446 69
1960 423 353 70
1959 375 311 64
1958 343 282 61
1957 334 284 50
1956 217 184 33
1955 246 209 37
1954 165 139 26
1953 82 63 19
1952 62 46 16
1951 83 63 20
1950 61 46 15
1949 43 26 17
1948 40 26 14
1947 37 25 12
1946 17 17 0
1945 39 31 8
1944 17 17 0
1943 14 14 0
1942 13 13 0
1941 5 5 0
1936 5 5 0
1932 5 0 5
1924 7 7 0

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. 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
CA 18
13%
TX 17
12%
FL 14
10%
OH 14
10%
NY 10
7%
NC 9
6%
GA 8
6%
IN 6
4%
MO 6
4%
WA 6
4%
NJ 6
4%
PA 5
3%
MA 5
3%
TN 5
3%
MD 5
3%
MS 5
3%
WI 5
3%