Corey

Pronunciation: [ k-AWR-ee ]

Boy Name #679 Most Popular Steady 2 Syllables

An Irish surname with an unmistakable 80s-cool energy

Irish Scottish American English

Classic Playful Vintage Bold Strong

Meaning & Origin

"hollow, ravine"

Origin: Irish Gaelic

Language: English

"raven"

Origin: Irish Gaelic

Language: Irish

Things to Know About This Name

Strongly associated with Corey Haim and Corey Feldman 'The Two Coreys' — both had very public personal struggles

The Story of Corey

Corey derives from the Irish surname Ó Comhraidhe or Ó Corra, meaning descendant of Corra. Some etymologists connect Corra to the Irish word for 'hollow' or to a personal name meaning 'raven' (a bird of wisdom in Celtic mythology). It may also relate to the Old Norse 'kori' meaning chosen. The name crossed from surname to given name in the 20th century American tradition.

Corey peaked in the US in the 1980s, powered by child stars Corey Haim and Corey Feldman who dominated teen culture in films like The Lost Boys and The Goonies. It has been declining since the 1990s as it feels dated to that era.

In Ireland, Corey is primarily a surname (family name O'Corey), but American Irish diaspora adopted it as a given name enthusiastically. The name evokes 1980s American suburban youth culture strongly.

Fun Facts

Corey Haim and Corey Feldman were so iconic they had a reality show called The Two Coreys in 2007-2008
The name peaked at #39 in the US in 1988 — right in the middle of The Lost Boys era
Corey is gender-neutral and has been used for both boys and girls, though it skews heavily male

Corey in Other Languages

Irish Comhraidhe

French Corey

German Corey

English Corey

Famous People Named Corey

Corey Taylor

Musician

1973

Lead vocalist of Slipknot and Stone Sour, one of rock's most powerful voices

Corey Haim

Actor

1971

Canadian child actor famous for The Lost Boys, Stand By Me era of teen films

Corey Matthews Fictional

Other

Main character of the ABC sitcom Boy Meets World (1993-2000), played by Ben Savage

Quick Facts

Gender: Boy
Syllables: 2
Popularity Rank: #679
Total SSA Count: 402
Cultural Origins: Irish Scottish American English
Pronunciation: Easy
Formality: Casual
Cross-Cultural Ease: High

Common Nicknames

Cor

Pairs Well With

Corey James Corey Michael Corey Allen Corey Lee Corey Daniel Corey Patrick Corey Ryan

Sibling Names

Ryan Tyler Ashley Lindsay Bryce Kayla Shane

Also a Girl Name

Corey is also used as a girl name, ranked #6960.

View Corey as a girl name →

Similar Names

Conrad Roger Opie Remy Cory Rory Rory Cori

Playground Safety

Kid-Friendly

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Frequently Asked Questions About Corey

What does the name Corey mean?

"hollow, ravine" (from Irish Gaelic). "raven" (from Irish Gaelic). Corey derives from the Irish surname Ó Comhraidhe or Ó Corra, meaning descendant of Corra. Some etymologists connect Corra to the Irish word for 'hollow' or to a personal name meaning 'raven' (a bird of wisdom in Celtic mythology). It may also relate to the Old Norse 'kori' meaning chosen. The name crossed from surname to given name in the 20th century American tradition.

What is the origin of the name Corey?

Corey has Irish Gaelic, Irish, Scottish, American, and English origins. In Irish Gaelic, it means "hollow, ravine". In Irish Gaelic, it means "raven".

Is Corey a boy or girl name?

Corey is used as both a boy and girl name. As a boy name, it is ranked #679. As a girl name, it is ranked #6960. Corey is more commonly used as a boy name.

How do you pronounce Corey?

Corey is pronounced k-AWR-ee.

How popular is the name Corey?

Corey is currently ranked #679 in popularity for boy names in the United States.

What are common nicknames for Corey?

Common nicknames for Corey include Cor.

What are good middle names for Corey?

Popular middle name pairings include Corey James, Corey Michael, Corey Allen, Corey Lee, Corey Daniel, Corey Patrick, and Corey Ryan.

What are good sibling names for Corey?

Names that pair well with Corey as siblings include Ryan, Tyler, Ashley, Lindsay, Bryce, Kayla, and Shane.

How many syllables does Corey have?

Corey has 2 syllables, making it easy to say and remember.

Is Corey a common or rare name?

Corey is moderately common, ranked #679 for boys in the US. You will encounter it, but it stands out.

About the Name Corey

Corey is a boy name with Irish, Scottish, American, and English origins . The name means "hollow, ravine" in Irish Gaelic .

Is Corey a boy or girl name? Corey is used as both a boy and girl name. As a boy name, it ranks #679 in popularity. As a girl name, it ranks #6,960. Corey is more commonly used as a boy name.

Corey is currently ranked #679 in popularity for boy names in the United States.

The name Corey has 2 syllables and is pronounced k-AWR-ee, making it easy to pronounce and remember.

Common nicknames for Corey include Cor. These shorter forms provide casual alternatives while keeping the elegance of the full name.