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Coraline

♀ Girl

Pronounced KOR-uh-line /ˈkɔːr.ə.laɪn/High

Meaning: A blend or elaboration combining Cora (from Greek kore meaning maiden or heart) with the -line suffix, or from the coral gemstone name via French coraline; popularized by Neil Gaiman's 2002 novellaMedium

In 30 seconds: A literary name blending Cora (Greek maiden) with a -line suffix, Coraline was made famous by Neil Gaiman's dark fantasy novella and the 2009 stop-motion film, and has been rising as a gothic-whimsical girls' name.
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Origin MediumEnglish, Latin, French
MeaningA blend or elaboration combining Cora (from Greek kore meaning maiden or heart) with the -line suffix, or from the coral gemstone name via French coraline; popularized by Neil Gaiman's 2002 novella
U.S. rank (2025)#683 ↗ Rising
2025 U.S. births414 girls (0.02% of U.S. girls)
Peak year2015
Total births (all-time)≈ 6,784

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 201519702025

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

History & Origin

Coraline is either a name that Neil Gaiman discovered in existing use or one he coined (accounts differ) for his 2002 novella. Structurally it appears to be an elaboration of Cora (from Greek kore, meaning maiden, as in Persephone's nickname) with the -line suffix common in feminine names (Madeline, Caroline, Adeline). It may also be influenced by the word coral via French coraline.

Before 2002, Coraline was essentially unknown in the United States. Following the novella's publication and especially the 2009 film adaptation, Coraline began appearing on birth records. By the 2010s it had entered the top 300 girls' names. It resonates strongly with parents who love the dark, whimsical aesthetic of Gaiman's work and who want a name that is unusual, beautiful, and literary.

Did you know? Coraline (2002) by Neil Gaiman, and its 2009 stop-motion film adaptation directed by Henry Selick, became cultural phenomena for their beautifully dark fairy-tale vision — and launched this name into wide use for girls who love the fantastical.
Overall data confidence 82%
U.S. Social Security Administration — popularity data

Variations

CarolineCoraCoralina

Nicknames

CoraCoralLina

Famous Bearers

  • ★Coraline Jones (fictional)
    Fictional protagonist of Neil Gaiman's novella Coraline and its 2009 film adaptation.

If you like Coraline…

Cora— the embedded core name sharing the Greek maiden meaning
Calliope— shares the same dark-whimsical literary atmosphere and the same mythological feel
Ophelia— another literary name with the same gothic, fantastical character
Arabella— shares the multi-syllable romantic character and the same whimsical, dark-fairy-tale energy

Frequently Asked

What does the name Coraline mean?

Coraline blends Cora (from Greek kore, meaning maiden) with the -line suffix. It may also relate to coral through French coraline.

How do you pronounce Coraline?

It is said KOR-uh-line /ˈkɔːr.ə.laɪn/ — three syllables with stress on the first.

Is Coraline from a book?

Coraline is the name of Neil Gaiman's 2002 dark fantasy novella and its beloved 2009 stop-motion film, which drove the name into wide use.

Is Coraline a popular name?

Coraline entered the U.S. top 300 girls' names in the 2010s and is rising, popular among parents who love literary and whimsical names.