Girl · #9,521 in 2026

Korea

Korea is a peninsular region in East Asia consisting of the Korean Peninsula, Jeju Island, and smaller islands. Since the end of World War II in Asia in 1945, it has been politically divided at or near the 38th parallel between North Korea and South Korea. Both countries proclaimed independence in 1948, and the two countries fought the Korean War from 1950 to 1953.

Current Rank
#9,521
Peak Rank
#6,216 (2004)
Total Babies
298
5-Yr Trend
Stable
1986
First Year
2024
Last Year
2004
Peak Year
#6216
Peak Rank
298
Total Count
34
Years Active

Meaning & Origin of Korea

What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.

Korea is a peninsular region in East Asia consisting of the Korean Peninsula, Jeju Island, and smaller islands. Since the end of World War II in Asia in 1945, it has been politically divided at or near the 38th parallel between North Korea and South Korea. Both countries proclaimed independence in 1948, and the two countries fought the Korean War from 1950 to 1953.

Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →

Etymology
Main article: Names of Korea See also: Korean romanization "Korea" is the modern spelling of "Corea", a name attested in English as early as 1614. "Corea" is derived from the name of the ancient kingdom of Goryeo . Korea was transliterated as Cauli in The Travels of Marco Polo , of the Chinese 高麗 ( MC : Kawlej , mod. Gāolì ). This was the Hanja for the Korean kingdom of Goryeo ( 고려 ; 高麗 ; Koryŏ ; Goryeo ), which ruled most of the Korean peninsula during the 12th century. Korea's introduction to the West resulted from trade and contact with merchants from Arabic lands, with some records dating
Origin & history
Main article: History of Korea For a chronological guide, see Timeline of Korean history . .mw-parser-output .sidebar{width:22em;float:right;clear:right;margin:0.5em 0 1em 1em;background:var(--background-color-neutral-subtle,#f8f9fa);border:1px solid var(--border-color-base,#a2a9b1);padding:0.2em;text-align:center;line-height:1.4em;font-size:88%;border-collapse:collapse;display:table}body.skin-minerva .mw-parser-output .sidebar{display:table!important;float:right!important;margin:0.5em 0 1em 1em!important}.mw-parser-output .sidebar-subgroup{width:100%;margin:0;border-spacing:0}.mw-parser-outpu

The Story of Korea

Korea first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a baby girl name in 1986, with 5 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 2004, when 19 Koreas were born — ranking #6,216 that year. As of 2026, Korea ranks #9,521 for baby girls with 10 births, with steady use. In total, more than 298 Koreas have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1980s through the 2020s.

Popularity Over Time

Popularity by State

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No data

Names that sound like Korea

Phonetically similar names — useful when Korea is the vibe but a different syllable count or letter feel might suit better. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.

Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.

Frequently Asked Questions about Korea

What does the name Korea mean?
Korea is a peninsular region in East Asia consisting of the Korean Peninsula, Jeju Island, and smaller islands. Since the end of World War II in Asia in 1945, it has been politically divided at or near the 38th parallel between North Korea and South Korea. Both countries proclaimed independence in 1948, and the two countries fought the Korean War from 1950 to 1953.
How popular is Korea in 2026?
In 2026, Korea ranks #9,521 among girls' names in the U.S., with 10 babies given the name that year.
When was Korea most popular?
Korea reached its peak popularity in 2004, ranking #6,216 that year with 19 babies given the name.
Is Korea a unisex name?
In U.S. Social Security records, Korea is primarily a girl's name. We don't have meaningful data for it as a boy's name.
What names go well with Korea?
Names that share a similar style or popularity range with Korea include Avian, Nandita, Anett. These pairings are based on rank proximity and naming era in U.S. data.

Similar Names

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Avian
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Nandita
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Anett
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Nhu
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Deysy
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👧
Kamalani
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Ryenne
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Tyjanae
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About the name Korea

Korea is a girl baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1986 and has accumulated 298 births in the dataset. Korea's peak popularity came in 2004 when it ranked #6,216. Use the chart and map above to compare Korea's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.

Continue exploring

Data sources

  • Birth statistics (counts, ranks, years 1880–2026) — U.S. Social Security Administration . Predictions for years not yet released by SSA are computed by Peek a Name from historical trends; we update with official data as soon as it ships.
  • Etymology, cultural origins, and related forms — Behind the Name (used under their public API terms).
  • Meaning prose and editorial summary — Wikipedia article extracts, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 .
  • Predicted nationality distribution — Nationalize.io .
  • Phonetically similar names — Datamuse .

Peek a Name aggregates and presents the above data for informational purposes. Statistical predictions and external attributions are clearly labelled where shown; we make no guarantee of accuracy beyond what each source provides.