Given name & surname · also Greek
Cora
“one who makes cord”·“of the heart”
Cora is a variant of Cordell. One English interpretation is “one who makes cord.” Cora is a diminutive of Corazon. One Spanish interpretation is “of the heart.”
Original GreekΚόρα
Meaning & origin
What it means
Cora is a variant of Cordell. One English interpretation is “one who makes cord.” Cora is a diminutive of Corazon. One Spanish interpretation is “of the heart.”
Explained through its name family
Where it comes from
An origin associated with this spelling is Greek.
How it developed
In Filipino usage, Cora is a diminutive of Corazon. In French usage, Cora is a diminutive of Coralie.
The story
In mythological stories, Cora is a name for the goddess of the underworld.
Cora through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 156,415
- 387 boys · 156,028 girls
- Most popular year
- 2019
- 3,602 babies
- 2025
- 2,428
- #113 for girls
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- −19%
- Easing
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 2,428 U.S. birth records for girls, ranking No. 113 among girls’ names. Average annual use for girls was 18.8% lower in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for girls was 3,602 in 2019. In 2025, Texas had the largest reported state-level birth count for girls with this name (187). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 58,912 as a first name in 2020; 1,857 as a surname in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Cora’s family of names
In English usage, Cora has a diminutive in Cory. Cora has a related form in Cordell. In English usage, Cora has a masculine form in Cory.
Inner ring: spellings · middle: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Around the world
Cora has relatives in 6 languages. Lines run from its Ancient Greek roots to each of them.
9 related names in 6 languages. Point at a dot, or tab to the map and use the arrow keys.
Nicknames & forms 21
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Spellings & scripts 1
The same name written differently, including transliterations into other scripts.
Across languages 2
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
People named Cora
- Koko TaylorAmerican Chicago blues musician1928–2009
- Cora SandelNorwegian writer and painter (1880–1974)
- Cora Witherspoonactress (1890-1957)
- Cora Sue CollinsAmerican child actress1927–2025
- Elayna BlackAmerican professional wrestlerborn 2001
- Cora DiamondAmerican philosopherborn 1937
- Cora PearlEnglish courtesan who became famous in the Second French Empire1835–1886
- Cora van NieuwenhuizenDutch former politicianborn 1963
- Cora CoralinaBrazilian poet and short story writer (1889–1985)
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Cora, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Athena
Athena is a feminine given name from Middle English, ultimately from Ancient Greek. It is used in English and Tagalog.
>99% girls
Ophelia
“help” · “one who offers help to others”
>99% girls
Lila
“born at night” · “resembling a lily”
>99% girls
Sophie
“having great wisdom and foresight”
>99% girls
Peyton
“from the village of war- TIorS”
21% boys · 79% girls
Zenaida
Zenaida is a feminine given name from Spanish. It is used in English, Spanish, and Tagalog.
>99% girls
Thena
“wise”
>99% girls
Cassandra
“an unheeded prophetess”
>99% girls