Cora

The name Cora is a girl's name of Greek origin meaning "maiden". In classical mythology, Cora—or Kore—was a euphemistic name of Persephone, goddess of fertility and the underworld. Kore was the name used when referencing her identity as the goddess of Spring, while Persephone referred to her role as queen of the Underworld. Cora gained popularity as a given name after James Fenimore Cooper used it as the name of his heroine, Cora Munro, in his 1826 novel The Last of the Mohicans. Cora is a lovely, old-fashioned girls' name that has been recently rejuvenated and strengthened by its contemporary-feeling simplicity. Though she has never been completely out of favor, Cora has had her ups and downs. A Top 20 name in the 1880's, she had sunk to Number 876 in 1988, but has gradually come back into style, with every indication that she will continue to rise in popularity. A current inspiration is the appealing American-born Cora Crawley, Countess of Grantham on Downton Abbey. While a complete name unto itself, some parents who love Cora may want to use it as a short form for such names as Cordelia or Coraline. Cora's fashionable sisters include Clara, Nora, Corinne, Corinna and Coralie.