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.
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:
CorahCoralCoralieCoralineCoreCoreyCorrinCorrinaCorrineCoryKoraKoreKorra
Similar Names
Similar sounding names to Cora:
CallaCaraCarrieClaraCordeliaCorelleFloraKyraLauraNoraSarah
Other Greek mythology names:
AthenaCalypsoClioDioneGaiaHelenHera HermioneIrisRhea
Other names starting with C:
CaliCalistaCamiCarolineCelesteCelineChantelCharlotteChivonneChloeCindyClariceCloverColleenCristinaCynthia
Suggested Sibling Names
Looking for a sibling name for Cora? Here are some popular options:
AdelaideAlbertDylanElizaEllieElodieGraceJonahLouiseLucasMayMiaMiloTessTrixie
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”
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