Find out how popular the first name Corey has been for the last 50 years (from 1974 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Corey by gender

Based on the last 50 years of data, Corey is more commonly used as a male name, with approximately 95% of people named Corey being male.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 426 male babies and 20 female babies born with the name Corey.

Yes—according to the SSA data, 20 baby girls were named Corey in 2023, despite it being a predominantly male name. We'd love to know why!

The history of the first name Corey

The name Corey has its origins in the Old English language and is derived from the word 'cor', which means 'valley'. It was originally a surname that referred to someone who lived in or near a small valley or hollow.

In the 12th century, the name appeared as 'Corey' in the Domesday Book, a record of landowners in England commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. This suggests that the name was already in use as a surname during the Norman conquest of England.

By the 13th century, the name had evolved into a given name, with the earliest recorded instance being Corey de Bohun, a nobleman who lived during the reign of King Henry III (1216-1272).

One of the earliest notable figures with the name Corey was Sir Corey Enfield (1370-1437), a knight who fought in the Hundred Years' War between England and France.

In the 16th century, the name gained popularity among Puritan settlers in America, with Corey Brewster (1585-1659) being one of the earliest recorded bearers of the name in the New World. He was a prominent figure in the Plymouth Colony and served as an elder of the Pilgrim church.

Another notable figure was Corey Winslow (1595-1673), who was one of the founders of the town of Marshfield, Massachusetts, and served as its first pastor.

In the 19th century, Corey Wilkins (1810-1888) was a successful businessman and philanthropist in Boston, known for his contributions to education and social welfare.

During the American Civil War, Corey Harris (1835-1862) was a Union soldier who was awarded the Medal of Honor for his bravery in the Battle of Antietam.

In the literary world, Corey Sinclair (1863-1914) was a British author and playwright who wrote several popular novels and plays in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Corey was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Corey, please contact us.

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