Given name & surname
Kori
“from the hollow; of the churning waters”
Kori is a variant of Kory. One Irish interpretation is “from the hollow; of the churning waters.”
Meaning & origin
What it means
Kori 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
Kori is a variant of Kory. An origin associated with Kory is Irish. Kori is a variant of Kora. An origin associated with Kora is Greek.
Explained through its name family
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1953. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Kori through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 16,387
- 1,565 boys · 14,822 girls
- Most popular year
- 2016
- 503 babies
- 2025
- 287
- #978 for girls · #4,003 for boys
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- −13%
- Easing
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 260 U.S. birth records for girls, ranking No. 978 among girls’ names. Average annual use for girls was 14.3% lower in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for girls was 475 in 2016. It also appeared in 27 birth records for boys in 2025. In 2025, Texas had the largest reported state-level birth count for girls with this name (30). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 12,496 as a first name in 2020; 268 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.
Kori’s family of names
In English usage, Kori has a related form in Cory. Kori has a related form in Kory. In English usage, Kori has a related form in Cori.
Inner ring: spellings · outer: nicknames and forms.
Nicknames & forms 4
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Spellings & scripts 3
The same name written differently, including transliterations into other scripts.
People named Kori
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Kori, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Cora
“one who makes cord” · “of the heart”
>99% girls
Kali
“the dark one; in Hinduism, a destructive force” · “one who provides comfort”
3% boys · 97% girls
Collins
“descendant of Coileán” · “knee + nipplewort”
5% boys · 95% girls
Callie
“crowned with laurel” · “one who is slender”
>99% girls
Zuri
“a beauty” · “lovely and white”
2% boys · 98% girls
Kennedy
“a helmeted chief”
3% boys · 97% girls
Kalani
“from the heavens”
6% boys · 94% girls
Camilla
“a ceremonial attendant; a noble virgin”
>99% girls