Coral

♀ Girl

Pronounced KAWR-uhl /ˈkɔɹ.əl/Medium

Meaning: English nature/jewel name from the word 'coral' (the marine reef and gemstone), via Latin 'corallium' from Greek 'korallion'. Fashionable since the late 1800s.Medium

In 30 seconds: Coral is an English nature-and-jewel name taken from the marine reef and gemstone of the same word, fashionable since the late 1800s.

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Origin MediumEnglish

MeaningEnglish nature/jewel name from the word 'coral' (the marine reef and gemstone), via Latin 'corallium' from Greek 'korallion'. Fashionable since the late 1800s.

U.S. rank (2025)#1931 ↘ Falling

2025 U.S. births100 girls (0.01% of U.S. girls)

Peak year2004

Total births (all-time)≈ 10,970

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

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

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Coral comes straight from the English word for the reef and the gemstone, which travelled through Latin 'corallium' from Greek 'korallion'. It joined the wave of nature and jewel names that grew fashionable in the late nineteenth century. As a given name it keeps the pinkish-red color and the sea association of the material it names.

There is a clean, vintage charm to Coral, equal parts ocean and ornament. It opens out into the prettier French elaborations Coralie and Coraline, and was worn by the Australian-American actress Coral Browne, who lived from 1913 to 1991.

Did you know? The meaning usually attached to Coral is the coral of the sea, the red marine reef and gemstone, from Greek korallion, and that core idea is what gives the name most of its long-term appeal.

Overall data confidence 78%

Behind the Name - Coral — etymology, usage, pronunciation, and related formsU.S. Social Security Administration — 2024 popularity rank and count supplied in the batch input CSV

Variations

KoraljkaCoralieCoralineKoralia

Nicknames

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Famous Bearers

★Coral Browne (1913-1991)
Australian-American stage and screen actress who worked primarily in Britain, appearing in films such as Auntie Mame and The Ruling Class and winning a BAFTA TV Award.

If you like Coral…

Coraline— a longer French form built on Coral

Crystal— echoes that soft -al sound

Krystal— a similarly popular pick

Calla— another English name

Cedar— lands in the same popularity range

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Coral mean?

Coral is usually explained as a word name meaning 'coral', the red marine reef and gemstone, from Greek korallion, and is most often linked with English tradition.

How do you pronounce Coral?

It's commonly said KAWR-uhl /ˈkɔɹ.əl/.

Is Coral a boy or girl name?

In this batch and in recent U.S. usage data, Coral is used as a girl name.

How popular is Coral?

In 2024, Coral ranked #1893 in the U.S. for girls, with 105 births recorded.