Given name & surname
Korea
“from the hollow; of the churning waters”
Korea is a variant of Kory. One Irish interpretation is “from the hollow; of the churning waters.”
Meaning & origin
What it means
Korea is a variant of Kory. One Irish interpretation is “from the hollow; of the churning waters.”
Explained through its name family
Where it comes from
Korea is a variant of Kory. An origin associated with Kory is Irish.
Explained through its name family
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1986. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Korea through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 298
- 0 boys · 298 girls
- Most popular year
- 2004
- 19 babies
- 2025
- 0
- Outside the ranked list
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- −15%
- Easing
By the numbers
The most recent published U.S. birth count for girls is 10 in 2024. Later missing counts do not mean the name went unused. Its largest published annual count for girls was 19 in 2004. Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 266 as a first name in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Korea’s family of names
Korea has a related form in Kory. In Greek usage, Korea as a surname is a transliteration of Κορέα.
Inner ring: spellings · outer: nicknames and forms.
Nicknames & forms 1
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Spellings & scripts 1
The same name written differently, including transliterations into other scripts.
Similar names
If you love Korea, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.