Cora Name Meaning

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What Does Cora Mean?

When looking for baby names, mythology can provide a plethora of names rich with inspiration and meaning. Cora is one such memorable name for your baby girl. The name Cora is of Greek origin and the Latinized version of the name “Kore.”

Meaning “maiden” or “daughter,” Cora (or Kore), is a name found in classical Greek mythology referring to Persephone. She was the goddess of Spring, and the daughter of Zeus and Demeter, who was the goddess of agriculture. As the wife of Hades and the queen of the underworld, Cora used the name Persephone.

  • Origin: Cora is a Greek name meaning "maiden" or "daughter."
  • Gender: Cora is commonly used as a girl name.
  • Pronunciation: co-ra

Although many baby names are separated by gender, Verywell Family believes that sex does not need to play a role in your name selection process. It is important to select a name that you feel suits your new baby the best.

How Popular Is the Name Cora?

The name Cora has been in use in the U.S. since the 1800s. It probably gained popularity after it was featured as the name of Cora Munro, the heroine in James Fenimore Cooper’s 1826 novel, “The Last of the Mohicans.”

From 1880 to 1890 it was a common name for girls, and in 1900 it ranked at No.55. According to 2020 data, the name dropped down to No. 879 in 1988.

But it started slowly gaining popularity again, ranking in the Top 100 in 2015. The name may have received a boost in popularity thanks to the TV show “Downton Abbey,” which features Cora Crawley as a principal character. By 2017, the name ranked at No.83 in the U.S. In 2019 and 2020, the name ranked at No. 71 and No. 88 respectively.

According to the Social Security Administration data, the name Cora is more common than its variation, Kora.

Name Variations

The following are name variations for the name Cora:

  • Corah
  • Coral
  • Coralie
  • Coraline
  • Core
  • Corey
  • Corrin
  • Corrina
  • Corrine
  • Cory
  • Kora
  • Kore
  • Korra

Similar Names

Similar sounding names to Cora:

  • Calla
  • Cara
  • Carrie
  • Clara
  • Cordelia
  • Corelle
  • Flora
  • Kyra
  • Laura
  • Nora
  • Sarah

Other Greek mythology names:

  • Athena
  • Calypso
  • Clio
  • Dione
  • Gaia
  • Helen
  • Hera 
  • Hermione
  • Iris
  • Rhea

Other names starting with C:

  • Cali
  • Calista
  • Cami
  • Caroline
  • Celeste
  • Celine
  • Chantel
  • Charlotte
  • Chivonne
  • Chloe
  • Cindy
  • Clarice
  • Clover
  • Colleen
  • Cristina
  • Cynthia

Suggested Sibling Names

Looking for a sibling name for Cora? Here are some popular options:

  • Adelaide
  • Albert
  • Dylan
  • Eliza
  • Ellie
  • Elodie
  • Grace
  • Jonah
  • Louise
  • Lucas
  • May
  • Mia
  • Milo
  • Tess
  • Trixie

Famous People Named Cora

Some notable people who share the name Cora are:

  • Cora Anna Walton (also known as Koko Taylor), an American singer who won the Grammy Award for Best Traditional Blues Album in 1985.
  • Cora Cohen, an American artist most known for her abstract paintings.
  • Cora Mae Brown, the first African-American woman elected to a state senate in the United States (1952).
  • Cora Sandel, pen name for a Norwegian writer and painter named Sara Cecilia Görvell Fabriciusbest who was famous for the novels now known as the “Alberta Trilogy.”
  • Cora Schumacher, a German actress, model, television presenter, and racing driver featured on German television programs such as “Top of the Pops,” “Marienhof,” and “Let's Dance.” 
  • Cora Sherlock, Irish writer and blogger, and campaigner in the Irish anti-abortion movement, as well as the deputy chairperson of the Pro-Life Campaign.
  • Cora Vander Broek, an American actress known for Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, and nominated for the Tony Award in 2020 for her performance in the Broadway play, “Linda Vista.”
  • Cora Witherspoon, an American stage and film character actress known for her roles in the 1928 play “Olympia,” and 1940 film “The Bank Dick.”

Fictional Coras:

  • Cora Crawley, a character from the TV series “Downton Abbey”
  • Cora Dithers, a cartoon character from the comic strip “Blondie”
  • Cora Mills, also known as Queen of Hearts, from the fantasy-drama series “Once Upon a Time”
  • Cora Hale, a character from the MTV series “Teen Wolf”
  • Cora Cross, a recurring character on the BBC soap opera "EastEnders"

More Baby Names


Still searching for the perfect baby name? Check out these related baby name lists for even more options: 

Top 1,000 Baby Girl Names in the U.S.

100 Greek Baby Names and Meanings

50 Mythological Baby Names

1 Source
Verywell Family uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
  1. Popularity of name Cora. Social Security Administration.

By Meena Azzollini
Meena Azzollini is a health and wellness content creator with experience covering parenting, women's health, and mental health. She specializes in creating effective content for various health and wellness-based businesses and empowers them with words that make a connection with their audience.