Cora
Cora is a girls' name of Greek origin meaning “maiden.” It ranked #113 in the United States in 2025. Cora derives from the Greek 'Kore,' an epithet for Persephone meaning 'maiden.'
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how do you pronounce Cora?
KOR-ah
where does the name Cora come from?
From the Greek korē, meaning maiden or girl — the title used of Persephone in her role as daughter, since her actual name was avoided in cult contexts. It may equally have entered English as a short form of Cordelia or Corinne.
It was used by James Fenimore Cooper in 'The Last of the Mohicans' and gained new life through 'Downton Abbey's' Lady Cora.
how popular is this name?
Cora has appeared in the US top 1,000 in 146 years since 1880. It peaked at #15 in 1880, and ranked #113 in 2025.
See the milestone years
| Year | Rank |
|---|---|
| 2025 | #113 |
| 2024 | #103 |
| 2023 | #93 |
| 2022 | #75 |
| 2021 | #87 |
| 2020 | #88 |
| 2019 | #71 |
| 2018 | #73 |
| 2017 | #83 |
| 2016 | #87 |
| 2010 | #275 |
| 2000 | #481 |
| 1990 | #855 |
| 1980 | #770 |
| 1970 | #678 |
| 1960 | #460 |
| 1950 | #289 |
| 1940 | #191 |
| 1930 | #161 |
| 1920 | #137 |
| 1910 | #85 |
| 1900 | #55 |
| 1890 | #36 |
| 1880 | #15 |
Source: SSA National Baby Names Dataset (through 2025). Years absent from the table are years Cora fell outside the top 1,000.
the history of Cora
James Fenimore Cooper's The Last of the Mohicans gave the name its first substantial English-language bearer in 1826, and it was widely used in America through the later nineteenth century. It disappeared for most of the twentieth and returned after 2000, helped by Cora Crawley in Downton Abbey.
who are famous people named Cora?
- Lady Cora Crawley (Downton Abbey character)
- Cora Coralina (Brazilian poet)
- Cora (The Last of the Mohicans character)
what are the nicknames and variants of Cora?
Nicknames
Variants around the world
what names are similar to Cora?
what names go well with Cora?
Sibling names that share Cora's rhythm and register without echoing it too closely.
quick answers about Cora
What does the name Cora mean?
Cora means “maiden”.
What is the origin of the name Cora?
Cora comes from the Greek naming tradition. Related forms include Kora, Corah and Korey.
How popular is the name Cora?
Cora ranked #113 in the US in 2025, according to Social Security data. Its best year was 1880, at #15, and it has spent 146 years in the top 1,000 since 1880.
Is Cora a boy or girl name?
Cora is primarily a girls' name.
How do you pronounce Cora?
Cora is pronounced KOR-ah, with 2 syllables.
Last updated · Curated by HushName editorial
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