Given name & surname
Kory
“from the hollow; of the churning waters”
Kory is used as a given name and a surname. One Irish interpretation is “from the hollow; of the churning waters.”
Meaning & origin
What it means
One Irish interpretation is “from the hollow; of the churning waters.”
Where it comes from
An origin associated with this spelling is Irish.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1952. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Kory through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 15,723
- 14,385 boys · 1,338 girls
- Most popular year
- 1989
- 651 babies
- 2025
- 45
- #3,352 for boys · #9,800 for girls
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- −20%
- Easing
Boys, girls and both
The balance of boys and girls given this name has shifted over time. Recent births are 82% boys.
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 35 U.S. birth records for boys, ranking No. 3,352 among boys’ names. Average annual use for boys was 21.2% lower in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for boys was 601 in 1989. It also appeared in 10 birth records for girls in 2025. Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 13,277 as a first name in 2020; 444 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.
Kory’s family of names
In English usage, Kory has a related form in Cory. In English usage, Kory has a related form in Cori. Kory has a related form in Korey.
The ring: nicknames and forms.
Nicknames & forms 15
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
People named Kory
- Kory JohnsonAmerican environmentalist
- Kory LichtensteigerAmerican football player (born 1985)
- Kory Tarpenningpole vaulterborn 1962
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Kory, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Cody
“one who is helpful; a wealthy woman” · “acting as a cushion”
98% boys · 2% girls
Conor
“lover of hounds” · “a wolf-lover”
>99% boys
Kyle
“from the narrow channel”
97% boys · 3% girls
Coleman
“one who burns charcoal; resembling a dove”
>99% boys
Keenan
“a small woman” · “of an ancient family”
>99% boys
Casey
“vigilant, wakeful” · “a vigilant woman”
74% boys · 26% girls
Bryant
Bryant is a masculine given name from Irish.
>99% boys
Kieron
“having dark features; the little dark one”
>99% boys