Corey

♂ Boy

Pronounced KOR-ee /ˈkɔɹ.iː/High

Meaning: From the hollow; anglicization of the Irish Gaelic surname Corra or Corraidhin, possibly meaning from a hollow or ravine, or from the Norse Kori meaning chosenMedium

In 30 seconds: Corey is an Irish and Norse name meaning from the hollow or chosen, a classic American boys name that dominated the 1970s and 1980s and retains an easy, approachable charm through the cultural legacy of actors Corey Feldman and Corey Haim.

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Origin MediumIrish Gaelic, Old Norse

MeaningFrom the hollow; anglicization of the Irish Gaelic surname Corra or Corraidhin, possibly meaning from a hollow or ravine, or from the Norse Kori meaning chosen

U.S. rank (2025)#778 ↘ Falling

2025 U.S. births327 boys (0.02% of U.S. boys)

Peak year1989

Total births (all-time)≈ 185,014

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

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

History & Origin

Corey can be traced to the Irish Gaelic surname O Corraidhinn or Corra, possibly meaning from a hollow or ravine, or to the Old Norse personal name Kori meaning chosen. Both etymological streams are proposed; the Irish derivation is more widely cited for American usage.

Corey entered American mainstream use as a first name in the mid-20th century, rising to peak popularity in the 1970s and 1980s. It was among the top 50 boys names for most of the 1980s. Since then it has declined but retains comfortable familiarity, used now by parents with personal connections to the name's era.

Did you know? Corey Feldman and Corey Haim were so dominant in 1980s teen cinema that they were collectively known as The Two Coreys, appearing together in The Lost Boys (1987) and License to Drive (1988), making Corey synonymous with the decade's youth culture.

Overall data confidence 80%

Behind the Name — Corey — Irish Gaelic and Norse etymologyU.S. Social Security Administration — popularity data

Variations

CoryKoryKorey

Nicknames

Cor

Famous Bearers

★Corey Feldman (1971–present)
American actor and musician who starred in Stand by Me, The Goonies, and The Lost Boys, a defining figure of 1980s teen cinema.

If you like Corey…

Casey— same Irish-origin two-syllable American name popular in the same era

Brett— shares the short, approachable American boys name energy from the same decade

Troy— same one/two-syllable classic American boys name of the same naming generation

Kyle— fellow Irish-origin two-syllable American name peaking in the same 1980s era

Frequently Asked

What does the name Corey mean?

Corey most likely means from a hollow or ravine, from the Irish Gaelic Corra, though a Norse origin meaning chosen is also proposed.

How do you pronounce Corey?

It is said KOR-ee, two syllables with stress on the first.

Is Corey a popular name?

Corey was very popular in the 1970s and 1980s in the United States and has since declined to moderate steady use.

Is Corey a boy or girl name?

Corey is used predominantly as a boys name, though it occasionally appears for girls.