Coraline peaked in 2015 and carries 6,370 SSA records. A name that exists at the intersection of a beloved dark children's film, the gemstone coral, and the Latin naming tradition. At rank 720, it's rare enough to feel like a discovery and familiar enough not to require explanation.
Neil Gaiman and a Name That Outlived Its Moment
Neil Gaiman's 2002 novella and the 2009 animated film gave Coraline its modern identity. The character (brave, curious, and capable of navigating a genuinely frightening world) made the name aspirational rather than spooky. Five years after the film's peak visibility, the name had settled into independent use: parents who loved it weren't necessarily thinking about the film, they'd simply encountered a beautiful name. That's the sign of a successful cultural introduction: the name survives the fading of its origin.
Latin Roots and Coral Color
The name connects to Latin corallium, the word for coral, which gives it both a color association and a natural world grounding. It sits near Cora (which it can shorten to), Coral, and Corinne in the same etymological neighborhood. The -line ending adds length and formality while keeping the name soft. It's one of the more elegant names in the Cora family.
The Dark Aesthetic Question
Some parents hesitate because of the film's darker themes (alternate worlds, button eyes, a villainous Other Mother). That concern undersells the story. Coraline is fundamentally about a child who faces fear and wins. The name's association is with courage under pressure, not with horror. If anything, the film's thematic depth makes the name more interesting than a name with a cheerful but shallow pop-culture origin. This one has a story worth telling.