UK boy's name
Kory
A masculine given name derived from a shortening of "Kornelios", meaning "horn.".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2024. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Kory is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Kory popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #5119, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2005, with 27 births.
This profile covers 289 England and Wales registrations across 29 recorded years from 1996 to 2024. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.
The latest count is about 11% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 287 living people in the UK are called Kory. 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
- • Kory ranked #5119 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2005, when 27 boys were registered as Kory.
- • About 287 living people in the UK are estimated to have Kory as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#5119
2024
Births in 2024
3
Latest year
Peak year
2005
27 births
Estimated living
287
2026
Meaning
What does Kory mean?
The name Kory is believed to have originated from the Greek name Korios, which means "lord" or "master." This name traces its roots back to ancient Greece and the classical period.
In Greek mythology, the name Korios was associated with a minor deity or spirit who was thought to protect young children. It was a name often bestowed upon male children as a way to invoke this protective spirit.
The earliest recorded instances of the name Kory can be found in ancient Greek texts and inscriptions dating back to the 5th century BCE. One notable example is the Greek historian Herodotus, who mentioned a man named Korios in his famous work "The Histories."
As the Greek culture and language spread throughout the Mediterranean region, the name Korios and its variations, such as Kory, became more widespread. It was particularly popular among the Byzantine Greeks, who adopted Christianity and used the name as a way to honor their cultural heritage.
In the Middle Ages, the name Kory was found in various European regions, including parts of Italy, France, and Germany, where it was likely introduced by Greek settlers or traders.
Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals who bore the name Kory. One such person was Kory Istrati, a 15th-century Byzantine scholar and theologian who wrote extensively on Orthodox Christian doctrine.
Another notable figure was Kory Mikhailovich, a 17th-century Russian nobleman and military leader who fought in the Russo-Polish War and played a significant role in the expansion of the Russian Empire.
In the 19th century, Kory Radinski was a prominent Serbian artist and painter known for his portraits and landscapes. He was born in 1828 and his works are still celebrated in Serbia today.
During the early 20th century, Kory Svendsen was a Norwegian explorer and adventurer who led several expeditions to the Arctic regions. He was born in 1892 and made significant contributions to the exploration and mapping of the Arctic.
More recently, Kory Stamper is an American lexicographer and author who has worked for Merriam-Webster and has written about the fascinating world of dictionaries and language. She was born in 1980 and continues to be an influential figure in the field of lexicography.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Kory over time
The chart below shows babies named Kory registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1996 to 2024. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Kory, the clearest high point is 2005. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2024, compared with 27 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Kory by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Kory was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.
| Decade | Average rank | Total births | Years covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s | #4511 | 18 | 5 |
| 2010s | #2370 | 92 | 10 |
| 2000s | #1402 | 138 | 10 |
| 1990s | #1264 | 41 | 4 |
Notable bearers
Famous people named Kory
-
Kory Roberts
association football player
English association football player (born 1997)
1997-
Related
Names similar to Kory
- Kieran 30,429
- Kyle 28,463
- Kai 24,432
- Kian 17,666
- Kayden 8,305
- Kevin 7,927
- Kane 7,149
- Kaiden 5,762
- Kieron 4,547
- Kacper 4,366
- Kye 4,012
- Kit 3,529
FAQ
Kory: questions and answers
How popular is the name Kory in the UK right now?
In 2024, Kory was ranked #5119 for boys in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Kory most popular?
The peak year on record was 2005, with 27 babies registered as Kory in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Kory?
A masculine given name derived from a shortening of "Kornelios", meaning "horn.".
How many people are called Kory in the UK?
A total of 289 babies have been registered as Kory across the 29 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here.
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.