What does Athena mean?
Athena is the Greek goddess of wisdom and war; the name’s ultimate meaning is uncertain.
What does Cora mean?
From the Greek kore, “maiden,” an epithet of Persephone.
Athena vs Cora
Which is more popular?
Athena is more popular than Cora today: about 2,477 US babies were given the name Athena in 2025, compared with 2,428 named Cora.
| Athena | Cora | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Goddess of wisdom | Maiden |
| Origin | Greek | Greek |
| Gender | Girl | Girl |
| Pronunciation | uh-THEE-nah | KOR-uh |
| Syllables | 3 | 2 |
| First appeared | 1902 | 1880 |
| Peak year | 2022 (3,029) | 2019 (3,602) |
| In 2025 | 2,477 | 2,428 |
| Trend | Rising | Rising |
Popularity over time, 1880–2025
Athena
Cora
Source: US Social Security Administration.
Births by decade
| Decade | Athena | Cora |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 16,536 | 16,879 |
| 2010s | 18,303 | 27,816 |
| 2000s | 6,169 | 7,745 |
| 1990s | 3,191 | 3,323 |
| 1980s | 2,964 | 2,224 |
| 1970s | 2,588 | 2,093 |
| 1960s | 1,517 | 3,393 |
| 1950s | 786 | 5,869 |
| 1940s | 203 | 8,749 |
| 1930s | 245 | 11,253 |
| 1920s | 416 | 16,161 |
| 1910s | 183 | 15,317 |
| 1900s | 17 | 10,372 |
| 1890s | 0 | 12,880 |
| 1880s | 0 | 11,954 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Athena or Cora more popular?
Athena is more popular than Cora today: about 2,477 US babies were given the name Athena in 2025, compared with 2,428 named Cora.
What is the difference between Athena and Cora?
Athena means Goddess of wisdom (Greek origin), while Cora means Maiden (Greek origin).
Which name is older, Athena or Cora?
In US records, Athena first appears in 1902 and Cora in 1880, so Cora has the longer recorded history.