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

Popularity of Cory by gender

Based on the last 50 years of data, Cory is more commonly used as a male name, with approximately 96% of people named Cory being male.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 173 male babies and 13 female babies born with the name Cory.

Yes—according to the SSA data, 13 baby girls were named Cory in 2023, despite it being a predominantly male name. We'd love to know why!

The history of the first name Cory

The name Cory has its origins in the Greek word "korios," meaning "son" or "young man." It first appeared in ancient Greece around the 5th century BC and was used as a diminutive form of names like Corinthos or Coriander.

Over time, the name spread throughout the Mediterranean region and eventually made its way to the British Isles. In the Middle Ages, the name took on various spellings, such as Cori, Corie, and Korie, but the modern spelling of Cory became more prevalent in the 16th century.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Cory can be found in the works of the ancient Greek playwright Aristophanes, who wrote a character named Corydon in his play "The Wasps" around 422 BC. However, it's unclear whether this was an actual name or a literary creation.

Throughout history, there have been several notable figures who bore the name Cory. In the 17th century, Cory Townsend (1625-1701) was an English politician and Member of Parliament for West Looe. In the 19th century, Cory Winfield (1854-1912) was an American journalist and political activist known for his advocacy of women's suffrage.

Moving into the 20th century, Cory Aquino (1933-2009) was a prominent Filipino political figure who served as the 11th President of the Philippines from 1986 to 1992. Cory Unrau (1955-2007) was a Canadian actor best known for his roles in TV shows like "Due South" and "The X-Files."

More recently, Cory Monteith (1982-2013) was a Canadian actor and singer who gained fame for his role as Finn Hudson on the popular TV series "Glee." Sadly, he passed away at the young age of 31 due to a drug overdose.

While the name Cory has seen ebbs and flows in popularity over the centuries, its Greek roots and historical significance have ensured that it remains a recognizable and meaningful name in various cultures around the world.

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 Cory was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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