"hollow"
Kori
A timeless friendly name with Norse and Irish roots
Meaning & Origin
"descendant of Comhradha"
The Story of Kori
Kori is a phonetic spelling of Corey, which derives from the Irish Gaelic surname O Comhraidhe, meaning descendant of Comhradha, or alternatively from the Old Norse Kori meaning hollow. The name was brought to Ireland by Norse settlers during the Viking Age. Its simplicity and friendly sound have made it a popular given name in the English-speaking world since the mid-20th century.
Corey and its variants (Cory, Kori, Korey) peaked in the US during the 1980s, partly driven by pop cultural figures like Corey Haim and Corey Feldman. The K-spelling Kori remains in use as a fresher visual variant.
Corey has been used for both boys and girls in the US, though the K-spelling Kori tends to skew slightly more feminine. In African-American communities, the K-spelling distinguishes the name while maintaining the familiar pronunciation.
Fun Facts
- Corey was a top-50 name in the US during the 1980s
- Two popular teen actors in the 1980s both named Corey (Haim and Feldman) were called The Two Coreys
- The name is used for both boys and girls in the US
Kori in Other Languages
Famous People Named Kori
Corey Haim
Actor
1971
Canadian-American actor famous for 1980s teen films including The Lost Boys and License to Drive
Quick Facts
- Gender
- Boy
- Syllables
- 2
- Popularity Rank
- #4,081
- Total SSA Count
- 26
- Cultural Origins
- American Irish-American African-American
- Pronunciation
- Easy
- Formality
- Casual
- Cross-Cultural Ease
- High
Alternative Spellings
Common Nicknames
Pairs Well With
Sibling Names
Also a Girl Name
Kori is also used as a girl name, ranked #894.
View Kori as a girl name →Similar Names
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Frequently Asked Questions About Kori
What does the name Kori mean?
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Is Kori a boy or girl name?
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About the Name Kori
Kori is a boy name with American, Irish-American, and African-American origins . The name means "hollow" in Old Norse .
Is Kori a boy or girl name? Kori is used as both a boy and girl name. As a boy name, it ranks #4,081 in popularity. As a girl name, it ranks #894. Kori is more commonly used as a girl name.
Kori is currently ranked #4,081 in popularity for boy names in the United States.
The name Kori has 2 syllables, making it easy to pronounce and remember.
Common nicknames for Kori include Kor. These shorter forms provide casual alternatives while keeping the elegance of the full name.
Alternative spellings of Kori include Korbin, Korbyn, Korey, Korben, Kory . Each spelling variation gives the name a slightly different character while preserving its sound and meaning.