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