Sophia Girl
soh-FEE-uh
“wisdom” · Greek
#5
Cora
GirlGreek· “maiden”
- Meaning
- maiden
- Origin
- Greek
- Pronunciation
- KAW-ruh
- Syllables
- 2
- US rank 2025
- #113
- US babies 2025
- 2,428
- Best rank
- #15 (1880)
- Peak year
- 2019
Meaning and origin of Cora
Cora is a Greek name that means “maiden”.
Cora comes from the Greek Kore, "maiden," a title of Persephone, the daughter of Demeter who became queen of the underworld. The name was used in English from the eighteenth century and got a boost from James Fenimore Cooper's The Last of the Mohicans, where Cora Munro is one of the heroines. It was fashionable in the late nineteenth century, faded for decades, and has since come back as part of the revival of short, vintage names. Cora is simple and sweet but carries a certain strength from its mythological roots. It also serves as a short form of longer names like Coralie and Cordelia.
Other spellings with the same sound: Kora.
Popularity over time
Cora has been given to babies in the United States since at least 1880, the first year of Social Security records. It has ranked in the top 1,000 in 146 different years. Its best national rank was #15 in 1880, and the most babies received it in 2019, when 3,602 were named Cora. In 2025, 2,428 babies were named Cora, and it ranked #113 nationally. That is 29% fewer than ten years earlier, so it is becoming less common.
Its national rank moved from #137 in 1920, #289 in 1950, #770 in 1980, #481 in 2000, #275 in 2010, and #113 in 2025. Of the 156,028 US girls named Cora since records began, 18% were born in the 2010s, its biggest decade. The 2020s come next, with 16,879 babies.
Other girls' names that peaked around the same time include Arya, Brielle, Everleigh, Adalynn, and Everly.
Where it is most popular (2025)
In 2025, Cora ranked highest in Rhode Island, Minnesota, and South Dakota.
| State | Rank there | Babies |
|---|---|---|
| Rhode Island | #36 | 17 |
| Minnesota | #50 | 78 |
| South Dakota | #51 | 15 |
| Iowa | #55 | 44 |
| Wisconsin | #56 | 68 |
Gender, sound and spelling
In the US it is used almost only for girls.
Cora is usually pronounced KAW-ruh, with two syllables. It has four letters, starts with C and ends in “-ra”. Names that sound the same but are spelled differently include Kora.
Middle names for Cora
A few middle names that flow with Cora: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Cora
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Lists that include Cora
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Cora mean?
Cora is a Greek name that means “maiden”.
What is the origin of the name Cora?
Cora has Greek roots. Cora comes from the Greek Kore, "maiden," a title of Persephone, the daughter of Demeter who became queen of the underworld.
Is Cora a popular name?
Yes. Cora ranked #113 in the US in 2025, which makes it in the top 1,000.
Is Cora a boy or girl name?
Cora is mainly a girl's name. In the US it is used almost only for girls.
How do you pronounce Cora?
Cora is usually pronounced KAW-ruh. Stressed syllables are in capital letters.
Popularity figures come from US Social Security card applications (names given to at least five babies in a year, 1880 to 2025). How we source names and meanings