Meaning & Origin
A female given name originating as a coinage.
Coraline is a girl's baby name of Latin origin, coined by author Neil Gaiman for his 2002 novella Coraline — likely a variation of Caroline from the Latin form of Charles, meaning 'free man' or 'warrior,' with the coral element adding a pink-tinged, oceanic beauty.
Gaiman's novella, and its acclaimed 2009 stop-motion film adaptation, gave Coraline one of the most distinctive and beloved fictional name stories in recent literary history. The brave, curious girl who discovered a parallel world made this name synonymous with courage and adventurous spirit. Dark, beautiful, and utterly unforgettable.