Cory

A Old Norse name gently fading from the charts.

Boy's name| Also girlsOld NorseDeclining Also a pet name
#1093 85in 2024

Meaning & Origin

An English surname from Old Norse, a variant of Corey.

Cory is a boy's and girl's baby name of Old Norse origin, a variant of Corey, from the Old Norse surname Kori — possibly meaning 'God's peace' or derived from an Old Norse personal name of uncertain meaning. It became a popular American given name in the late 20th century.

Cory had its U.S. peak in the 1980s and is closely associated with that decade's TV culture — most memorably through Boy Meets World's Cory Matthews. The spelling splits evenly between Cory and Corey depending on family tradition.

Compare Cory with another name

Popularity Over Time

Cory was #349 twenty years ago and has since drifted to #1093, but its charm endures.

02k3k5k6k19401960198020002024

Popularity by Decade

Decade-by-decade popularity data for Cory
DecadeBirthsTrend
2020s1,019
2010s3,354
2000s8,903
1990s34,166
1980s44,361
1970s27,511
1960s5,896
1950s1,627
1940s174
1930s5
1920s7

Year-by-Year Data

View complete yearly data(86 years, 19242024)
Year-by-year popularity data for the name Cory
YearBirthsRank
2024197#1093
2023174#1178
2022182#1144
2021221#991
2020245#910
2019244#900
2018242#894
2017301#778
2016320#760
2015341#723
2014357#696
2013377#648
2012372#643
2011362#650
2010438#578
2009544#499
2008608#457
2007706#416
2006653#429
2005773#373

Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.

Cory as a Girl's Name

While overwhelmingly a boy's name, Cory has also been given to 6,585 girls in the U.S. since 1932.

#6974
Current rank
6,585
Total births
1978
Peak year
Compare Cory as boy vs girl

Frequently Asked

Can Cory be used for both boys and girls?
Yes, Cory is used for both boys and girls. As a boy's name, it currently ranks #1093. As a girl's name, it ranks #6974.

Cory has two lives

Cory, the baby name
#1093boys
127,023 babies
Currently viewing
Cory, the pet name
#1695pet name
60 pets
View pet page →

Last updated May 2026 · Data: U.S. Social Security Administration (19242024) · Methodology