corey

Corey is a modern English given name, used predominantly for boys though occasionally for girls, and also found as a family name. The name likely derives from an Old Norse personal name (Kóri) introduced to Britain by Scandinavian settlers, and it has since developed numerous spellings including Cory, Korey, and Corrie. It carries no fixed grammatical or lexical meaning as an ordinary dictionary word; instead, it functions purely as a proper noun identifying individuals. The name rose sharply in popularity in North America during the mid-to-late twentieth century, boosted in part by well-known bearers such as actors Corey Feldman and Corey Haim. Because several distinct spellings coexist, readers encountering the name should expect variation between Corey, Cory, and related forms across different families and regions.

Corey is used chiefly as a male given name and surname; it has no established meaning as an ordinary English word.

Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.

Etymology of corey

Corey is generally traced to the Old Norse personal name Kóri, brought to northern England by Viking settlers, though some sources connect it instead to an Irish surname (Ó Comhraidhe, anglicised as Corey). It spread from Britain and Ireland to North America, where it became widespread as a first name in the twentieth century. Related spellings such as Cory and Korey are variants of the same name rather than separate words.

How corey is actually used

Corey is almost exclusively encountered as a personal name rather than a word with lexical meaning. It is typically masculine but is sometimes given to girls. Spelling variants include Cory, Korey, Kori, and Corrie.

Easily confused with corey

Rhymes with corey