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Why parents love Cora- The Greek mythology connection gives it genuine depth — Persephone is one of the most powerful goddesses.
- Downton Abbey's Lady Cora made it feel warm and aristocratic.
- Four letters, two syllables — perfectly proportioned.
- It was rare enough to feel special but familiar enough to be easy.
- The meaning maiden is sweet without being saccharine.
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The vibe of Cora
mythologicalmaidenwarmaristocraticliteraryvintagegentlestrong
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Origin & history of Cora
Greek Κόρη (Korē, maiden)
→ epithet of Persephone
→ Latinised Cora
→ English Cora
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Greek roots
Cora derives from the Greek Korē, meaning maiden or girl, which was used as an epithet of Persephone, queen of the underworld. In the Eleusinian Mysteries, the most sacred rituals in ancient Greece, Persephone was simply called Kore — the Maiden. James Fenimore Cooper used the name Cora for the brave elder Munro sister in The Last of the Mohicans (1826), essentially introducing it to English-speaking audiences. The name was popular in the Victorian era, then faded. Downton Abbey (2010–2015) featured Cora Crawley, the warm American-born Countess of Grantham, and the name re-entered the US top 100 in 2013.
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First recorded
Earliest known use: Ancient Greece as an epithet of Persephone; modern English usage from James Fenimore Cooper's The Last of the Mohicans (1826).
3
Today
Cora remains a beloved choice, ranking #85 in the US. 153,964 babies have been named Cora since 1880.
◈ Sources: Behind the Name, Oxford Classical Dictionary, Oxford Dictionary of First Names, SSA data
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How popular is Cora?
2019
peak year
Cora appears in U.S. registration data going all the way back to 1880, when records begin. Its popularity climbed over the following decades. In 2019, 3,601 babies were named Cora (ranked #71 nationally). Today it sits inside the top hundred (#85), with roughly 3,186 babies named Cora each year. Cora's usage has held roughly steady recently. In total, around 153,964 babies have been registered with this name since 1880.
Year-by-year registrations
1880–2024 · U.S. Social Security data
3,601
Babies named in peak year
(ranked #71)
(ranked #71)
3,186
Avg. per year
(last decade)
(last decade)
31,860
Total registrations
last 10 years
last 10 years
153,964
All-time total
(since 1880)
(since 1880)
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Numerology of Cora1
Life path number
The Leader
Leadership, independence and pioneering spirit.
Cora's Life Path 8 is the achiever's number — fitting for a name connected to the queen of the underworld, who commands an entire realm. People named Cora tend to be quietly authoritative, warm, and capable of navigating between different worlds with grace.
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Quietly authoritative✦
Navigates between worlds◈
Warm commander◎
Grace under pressure♡
Stronger than expectedC3
O6
R9
A1
Sum: 19 → Life path 1
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Personality of Cora🌟
Independent & bold
These individuals chart their own course. They lead, they don't follow.
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Ambitious drive
Quiet determination sits behind everything they do.
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Original ideas
Their minds work differently — seeing angles others walk past.
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Natural authority
Without trying, they earn respect.
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Famous people named CoraClick any name to view their Wikipedia page.
C
Cora Crawley
The warm Countess of Grantham in Downton Abbey, played by Elizabeth McGovern.
C
Cora Munro
Brave heroine of The Last of the Mohicans by James Fenimore Cooper.
C
Persephone/Kore
Greek goddess of spring and queen of the underworld.
C
Cora Pearl
Famous Victorian courtesan in Second Empire Paris.
C
Cora Coralina
Beloved Brazilian poet who published her first book at age 75.
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If you like Cora, you may also loveClara
Same four-letter, two-syllable vintage simplicity with a luminous meaning.
Nora
Both are short, warm, literary revival names.
Flora
Same -ora ending with a botanical rather than mythological meaning.
Thea
Both are short Greek names with goddess connections.
Maeve
Same brief, strong, mythological energy.
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Names that sound like CoraIf you love Cora, you might love these names with a similar sound, rhythm or feel.
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Names that combine with CoraSibling pairings that share the timeless, classic energy of Cora.
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Middle names for CoraThe right middle name turns Cora into a complete story. Explore options for first-and-middle pairings, then last-name flow.
Want a personalised middle name for Cora? Try our dedicated generator with 1,000+ pairings.
♡ Generate middle name for Cora →✦
Numerology life path calculatorEnter any full name and date of birth to discover the life path number — a core numerological indicator of personality, purpose and destiny.
First name
Middle name (optional)
Last name
Date of birth
7
Life path number
How we calculated this
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