NameCensus.

UK girl's name

Coreen

A feminine French name potentially derived from the Greek word kore, meaning "maiden".

Coreen is a girl's name in the UK records.

We estimate that about 9 living people in the UK are called Coreen. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2025 or 2026.

Key insights

  • Coreen ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #582 in 1987.
  • About 9 living people in the UK are estimated to have Coreen as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

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Births in -

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Peak year

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Estimated living

9

2026

Meaning

What does Coreen mean?

The name Coreen is a feminine given name derived from the French name Corinne, which in turn has its origins in the ancient Greek word "Kore." Kore was the name given to the maiden goddess Persephone, the daughter of Demeter, the goddess of agriculture and fertility.

In Greek mythology, Kore was abducted by Hades, the god of the underworld, and was eventually reunited with her mother after a period of time spent in the underworld. This myth was closely tied to the changing of the seasons and the cycle of life, death, and rebirth in nature.

The name Corinne first appeared in the writings of the ancient Greek poet Ovid, who used it as a poetic name for the goddess Persephone. It gained popularity in Europe during the Renaissance period, particularly in France, where it was often spelled as Corine or Corinne.

One of the earliest recorded examples of the name Coreen can be found in the works of the English poet and playwright William Shakespeare. In his play "King Lear," written in 1606, one of the characters is named Coreen.

Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals who bore the name Coreen. One of the most famous was Coreen Callebaut (1895-1989), a Belgian artist known for her surrealist paintings and sculptures. Another was Coreen Phelps (1905-1985), an American actress who appeared in numerous films and television shows during the 1940s and 1950s.

In the literary world, Coreen Scott (1923-2008) was a renowned Canadian author and poet, best known for her collection of short stories titled "The Occupation of Heather Rose." Coreen Neile (1900-1996) was an American stage and film actress who appeared in several productions on Broadway and in Hollywood during the 1920s and 1930s.

Finally, Coreen Hay (1932-2018) was a Scottish artist and printmaker who gained recognition for her bold and vibrant woodcut prints, which often depicted scenes from everyday life in Scotland.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Geography

Where Coreen is most common

The bars show the latest published local birth counts for Coreen. They are useful for spotting where the name is showing up in real numbers, while the rank beside each bar shows how strongly it performs inside that region.

Coreen ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #582 in 1987.

Scotland
3

Across the UK

Coreen in Scotland and Northern Ireland

Scotland (NRS)

#582 in 1987

3 years of NRS records, 9 total registered

Notable bearers

Famous people named Coreen

  • Coreen McGuire

    historian

    British historian

Related

Names similar to Coreen

FAQ

Coreen: questions and answers

What is the meaning and origin of Coreen?

A feminine French name potentially derived from the Greek word kore, meaning "maiden".

Where is Coreen most common?

In the latest published local rankings, Coreen ranks best in Scotland, where it placed #582 in 1987. The regional bars on this page use birth counts, so they also reflect the size of each region.

Which records is this page based on?

The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.