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Origin: |
Cora is the Latinised form of the Greek name Kore — literally meaning "maiden, daughter," — an alternate name of the Spring Goddess Persephone. Persephone was referred to by the name Kore specifically in reference to her role as the goddess of spring's bounty and as the daughter of Demeter, the mother goddess of agriculture. As wife of Hades, the Queen of the Underworld, she took her other name, Persephone, as the protectress in the after-life. Kore was one of the chthonic gods of Greek religion — her dwelling was the earth rather than the ouranic (sky) gods who dwelt on Mount Olympus. As such, her cult was closely associated with agriculture, the earth, and afterlife, and is certainly pre-Greek, likely very ancient. Alongside Demeter, Kore was worshipped in the ancient Eleusinian Mysteries, one of the most important, sacred religious rites of ancient Greece —reenacted for thousands of years — which promised initiates happiness in the afterlife. According to her most famous legend, Kore was once playing in a meadow with her nymph companions when Hades carried her off in his chariot to the underworld to be his bride. Her mother Demeter despaired, searching the world for her daughter, and was furious to find out that Zeus had conspired with his brother Hades. In retribution, Demeter refused to let the earth fruit until her daughter returned. Faced with perpetual winter and famine, Zeus agreed to Kore's return and forced Hades to agree. A reluctant Hades capitulated, but, because Kore had eaten pomegranate seeds in the underworld, she was bound to the underworld for eternity. In compromise, it was agreed that she would spend half the year with her mother (as Kore), and the other half in the underworld (as Persephone). When she was with her mother, the flowers would bloom (Spring/Summer), and when she left for the underworld, her mother would morn (Autumn/Winter). Alternatively, another theory is that the myth represents the time when the Greeks stored their grain underground for part of the year in order to protect it from summer heat. The seeds were sown in the autumn and quickly germinated to grow throughout the winter time. During summer months, Kore, the grain-maiden, was in the underground (Hades' realm) where she was fused with Persephone, the Queen of the Underworld. At the beginning of Autumn, when the seeds of the old crop and the new were laid on the fields, she ascended and was reunited with her mother Demeter (the old and the new crop meeting). In this version, Kore's rise to the upperworld happens in Autumn/Winter rather than Spring/Summer, which matches up to the Eleusinian Mysteries which were celebrated in September. Mama Cora Ocllo is also the name of the Incan fertility and Mother Goddess. The asteroid, 504 Cora, was named after the Incan goddess in 1905. Corah is also a surname. It is a habitational Scottish surname from a, now lost, village. |
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Usage: |
Cora didn't see proper use as a given name until the late 18th century when it appeared in literature and opera. In some cases, it may have been influenced by Corinna which was a popular literary favourite earlier in the 17th and 18th centuries. Etienne Mehul used the name for his 1791 opera Alonzo and Cora, and James Fenimore Cooper used it for his main female character in his best-selling novel The Last of the Mohicans (1826). Cora gradually began to rise in use in England and Wales over the course of the 19th century. In a few early cases, it is recorded as Corah, which perhaps represents the surname in use as a given name, or could simply be a spelling variant. By the end of the century, Coral, Coralie and Coraline also grew in usage. Despite its growing use, it continually ranked below the top 200, ranking #230 in 1860, #250 in 1870, #251 in 1880, #290 in 1890 and #220 in 1900. The name peaked at the turn of the century and was overtaken by Coral by the 1930s. Records for Cora as a first name in the England and Wales Birth Index:
Up until 2012, Cora ranked below the top 400 in England and Wales but has been on a steady rise since. By 2014, it reached the top 300, putting it on a par with its late 19th century ranks. In 2017, Cora rose even further to #209 with 251 births in England and Wales. From September 2010 to November 2015, ITV aired six series of period drama Downton Abbey. The matriarch of the family, Cora Crawley, Countess of Grantham, was a principle character and featured in every series. In 2011, the fantasy series Once Upon a Time also had a character named Cora (2011-15), as did the soap Eastenders in the same year. In Scotland, Cora has also been rising in recent years to even greater success.
It saw a brief dip to #254 (16 births) in 2013, but has recovered since. Its peak so far in Scotland was in 2016 when it ranked #103 (45 births). In 2017, Cora ranked #129 with 37 births in Scotland. |
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Famous Bearers: |
History: * Cora Linn Daniels (1852-?), American author. Contemporary: * Cora Waddell (born 1989), Filipino actress, fashion model, and video blogger. Literature and Other Media: * Cora Munro, fictional heroine of The Last of the Mohicans (1826), by James Fenimore Cooper. |
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Variants: |
Corah; Kora |
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Pronunciation: |
KOR-rə [key] |
| Possible diminutives: |
Corey, Corie |
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Sibling Names: |
Alba Hazel Iris Willa Stella Margot |
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Name Lists: |
Vintage Names Ripe Renovations Guys and Dolls Short and Sweet |
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Thanks to Kirstie for requesting this name.
