Coraline

Updated: October 20, 2023 by Stephanie Graham

Coraline is a baby girl’s name of French origin. Coraline means “coral” and possibly “maiden.” Coraline might not be a brand new name, but it was a very uncommon given name until the film based on Neil Gaiman’s novel “Coraline” helped it reach the top 1000 names. Previously Coraline was almost exclusively a nickname.

Meaning and Origin of the name Coraline:

Coraline is a French girl's name meaning “coral” or “maiden.”

Coraline is a French diminutive of the name Coral, which came from the coral used to make jewelry. Coral is derived from the Latin word corallium, which is derived from the Greek word korallion. Coraline may also be a diminutive of the name Cora, which is derived from the Greek word Kórē (meaning “maiden,” “girl,” or “daughter”). Kórē is an epithet for the Greek goddess Persephone.

Symbolism of the name Coraline:

Coral is the symbol of immortality because it is a living organism. Coral is also a symbol of happiness, modesty, and wisdom. Coral has been used in traditional folk medicine practices in many cultures over the years. The Greek goddess Persephone was the daughter of Zeus and Demeter. She is the queen of the underworld and goddess of spring, nature, and agriculture.

Nicknames for the name Coraline:

Coraline is a sweet-sounding name for girls that has a rich history. You have several options to choose from when searching for a nickname. Below is a list of nicknames for Coraline to help you find the perfect one for your daughter.

Cora
Cori
Coral
Lina
Lin

Style of the name Coraline:

Modern

Gender of the name Coraline:

Coraline is a girl's name.

Pronunciation of the name Coraline:

KAWR-ə-lien (English), KAW-RA-LEEN (French)

Number of syllables in the name Coraline:

Three

Emotion evoked from the name Coraline:

Coraline evokes feelings of happiness and adventure.

Alternative spellings for the name Coraline:

Coralyne
Coralinn
Koraline
Koralyne

Popularity of the name Coraline:

According to the Social Security Administration, Coraline is a recently popular girl’s name. Coraline first appeared in the top 1000 baby names in 2012 and was #643 as of 2020.