Given name & surname
Cori
“from the hollow; of the churning waters”
Cori is a variant of Corey. One Irish interpretation is “from the hollow; of the churning waters.”
Meaning & origin
What it means
Cori is a variant of Corey. One Irish interpretation is “from the hollow; of the churning waters.”
Explained through its name family
Where it comes from
Cori is a variant of Corey. An origin associated with Corey is Old Norse.
Explained through its name family
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1947. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Cori through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 13,431
- 1,233 boys · 12,198 girls
- Most popular year
- 1977
- 435 babies
- 2025
- 106
- #1,932 for girls · #10,937 for boys
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- −6%
- Steady
Boys, girls and both
The balance of boys and girls given this name has shifted over time. Recent births are 7% boys.
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 100 U.S. birth records for girls, ranking No. 1,932 among girls’ names. Average annual use for girls was 4.5% lower in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for girls was 397 in 1977. It also appeared in 6 birth records for boys in 2025. In 2025, Texas had the largest reported state-level birth count for girls with this name (15). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 11,717 as a first name in 2020; 182 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.
Cori’s family of names
Cori has a related form in Corey. In English usage, Cori has a related form in Corey. In English usage, Cori has a related form in Cory.
The ring: nicknames and forms.
Nicknames & forms 8
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
People named Cori
- Cori BushAmerican politician, nurse, and activist (born 1976)
- Cori MorrisCanadian curlerborn 1971
- Cori SchumacherAmerican surferborn 1977
- Cori YarckinAmerican actor-singerborn 1982
- Cori HenryBritish sprinterborn 1976
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Cori, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Kari
“of the wind” · “one with curly hair”
20% boys · 80% girls
Cari
“from the river” · “from the fort on the hill”
18% boys · 82% girls
Corinne
“a spear-wielding woman”
>99% girls
Carrie
“a joyous song; a small, strong woman” · “from the river”
>99% girls
Kateri
Kateri is a feminine given name from Mohawk. It is used in French.
>99% girls
Kiri
“resembling the amaranth flower” · “resembling the mountains”
4% boys · 96% girls
Kami
“a loving man”
5% boys · 95% girls
Keisha
“of the spice tree”
>99% girls