Cory in Chinese
Cory in Chinese is 科里 (Kē Lǐ).
- Origin
- Irish
- Meaning
- hollow; ravine
Etymologically, Cory is Irish and is commonly glossed as "hollow; ravine". It first shows up in US Social Security records in 1924 and peaked in 1989. Spellings pronounced the same way include Corey, which share the transliteration 科里.
3 ways to write Cory
phonetic
Following the sound of your name
科里
Kē Lǐ
The standard transliteration of Cory: 科 (kē, "science; branch of study"), 里 (lǐ, "village; mile (phonetic 'ri/li')"). Chosen for sound, it is instantly recognizable as this name.
Why these characters?
Syllable by syllable: 科 (kē) carries "co", 里 (lǐ) carries "ry". The tone contour is 1-3 (high level, dipping).
Character breakdown
16 strokes total (simplified)- 科
kē
Tone 1 · 9 strokes (simplified)
science; branch of study
- 里
lǐ
Tone 3 · 7 strokes (simplified)
village; mile (phonetic 'ri/li')
PNG · black on white
Stroke order
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meaningful
Chosen for meaning and association
山峰
Shān Fēng
Inspired by "hollow; ravine": 山 (shān, "mountain") + 峰 (fēng, "summit, peak"), expressing land, hills and home.
Why these characters?
山 (mountain) answers the "hollow" in Cory's meaning, and 峰 (summit, peak) rounds it off as a typical ending for boys' names.
Character breakdown
13 strokes total (simplified)- 山
shān
Tone 1 · 3 strokes (simplified)
mountain
- 峰
fēng
Tone 1 · 10 strokes (simplified)
summit, peak
PNG · black on white
Stroke order
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balanced
A balance of sound and meaning
科峰
Kē Fēng
科 (kē, "science; branch of study") + 峰 (fēng, "summit, peak"): echoes the sound of the English name while carrying meaning.
Why these characters?
It keeps 科 (kē), the same opening character as the transliteration 科里, for the "co" sound, and replaces the rest with 峰 ("summit, peak") so the whole reads as a real given name.
Character breakdown
19 strokes total (simplified)- 科
kē
Tone 1 · 9 strokes (simplified)
science; branch of study
- 峰
fēng
Tone 1 · 10 strokes (simplified)
summit, peak
PNG · black on white
Stroke order
Loading stroke guides…
Popularity in the US
US Social Security records show 125,501 boys named Cory since 1924, with the high point in 1989 (6,451 births) and the busiest decade being the 1980s. Between 1990 and 2017 it slipped, from #67 to #780 among boys.
- Peak year
- 1989
- Peak decade
- 1980s
- First year
- 1924
- Total since 1880
- 125,501
More About Cory in Chinese
The Chinese translation of Cory offers multiple styles to suit different preferences. Whether you prefer a phonetic transliteration that sounds like your name, or a meaningful interpretation that captures the essence of Cory, you'll find options that work for you.
Cory is also spelled Corey — both names use the same Chinese transliteration.
If you're exploring Chinese names for boys, you might also be interested in Corey in Chinese, Brett in Chinese, and Phillip in Chinese. Each name has its own unique character combinations and meanings.
Other popular choices include Ronald in Chinese, Spencer in Chinese, Ricardo in Chinese, and Tanner in Chinese, each with beautiful traditional and simplified character options.
When choosing Chinese characters for Cory, consider whether you want:
- Phonetic accuracy: Characters that sound like Cory to native Chinese speakers
- Meaningful symbolism: Characters chosen for their beautiful meanings and cultural significance
- Balanced approach: A combination of sound and meaning that works well in both languages
Browse our complete A-Z index of Chinese names to explore more options, or start with our curated list of popular names in Chinese to see what others are choosing.
Frequently asked questions
What is Cory in Chinese characters?
科里 (Kē Lǐ), identical in simplified and traditional script. This is the conventional transliteration used in Chinese media.
How popular is the name Cory?
US Social Security records show 125,501 boys named Cory since 1924, with the high point in 1989 (6,451 births) and the busiest decade being the 1980s. Between 1990 and 2017 it slipped, from #67 to #780 among boys.
How many strokes does 科里 have?
16 strokes in simplified form; per character: 科 9, 里 7.