Cormac
Say it: KOR-mak
BoyIrishMythologyMeans possibly "son of the chariot"6 letters2 syllables
#141
in Ireland (2025)
#140 with spellings combined
38
babies in 2025
#39
best rank (2005)
5,729
babies since 1964
Down 51
10-year rank change
Cormac through the years
Compare with another name →Show the numbers
| Year | Babies (boys) | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 38 | #140 |
| 2024 | 37 | #136 |
| 2023 | 43 | #129 |
| 2022 | 46 | #130 |
| 2021 | 39 | #151 |
| 2020 | 50 | #125 |
| 2019 | 64 | #108 |
| 2018 | 52 | #125 |
| 2017 | 75 | #97 |
| 2016 | 85 | #83 |
| 2015 | 84 | #89 |
| 2014 | 102 | #76 |
| 2013 | 115 | #68 |
| 2012 | 116 | #68 |
| 2011 | 141 | #59 |
| 2010 | 139 | #58 |
| 2009 | 159 | #58 |
| 2008 | 167 | #54 |
| 2007 | 153 | #53 |
| 2006 | 185 | #42 |
| 2005 | 183 | #39 |
| 2004 | 147 | #51 |
| 2003 | 118 | #56 |
| 2002 | 127 | #52 |
| 2001 | 113 | #59 |
| 2000 | 126 | #54 |
| 1999 | 115 | #55 |
| 1998 | 91 | #61 |
| 1997 | 114 | #65 |
| 1996 | 126 | #59 |
| 1995 | 129 | #58 |
| 1994 | 99 | #70 |
| 1993 | 98 | #71 |
| 1992 | 110 | #68 |
| 1991 | 88 | #71 |
| 1990 | 90 | #78 |
| 1989 | 79 | #82 |
| 1988 | 75 | #81 |
| 1987 | 64 | #90 |
| 1986 | 88 | #78 |
| 1985 | 74 | #86 |
| 1984 | 86 | #75 |
| 1983 | 70 | #89 |
| 1982 | 99 | #79 |
| 1981 | 83 | #82 |
| 1980 | 104 | #77 |
| 1979 | 111 | #74 |
| 1978 | 83 | #82 |
| 1977 | 70 | #95 |
| 1976 | 83 | #86 |
| 1975 | 90 | #82 |
| 1974 | 79 | #90 |
| 1973 | 95 | #83 |
| 1972 | 86 | #83 |
| 1971 | 82 | #87 |
| 1970 | 76 | #84 |
| 1969 | 64 | #87 |
| 1968 | 53 | #87 |
| 1967 | 50 | #86 |
| 1966 | 41 | #95 |
| 1965 | 41 | #92 |
| 1964 | 39 | #87 |
Source: CSO, Irish Babies' Names (VSA50, VSA60), CC BY 4.0.
★ What does Cormac mean?
Possibly "son of the chariot"
Irish, from Old Irish Cormac, earlier Corbmac, possibly from corb (chariot) and mac (son).
Say it right
KORmak
The story of Cormac
Cormac is one of the oldest Irish names still in everyday use. Its earlier form was Corbmac. The second part is mac, son. The first part, corb, appears to mean a chariot, but it is found only in old glossaries, so “son of the chariot” is a best guess rather than a sure meaning. The Norse borrowed the name as Kormákr.
The best-known Cormac is Cormac mac Airt, the legendary High King who ruled from Tara, remembered as a wise and just judge. Many kings and churchmen later bore the name, and Cormac’s Chapel on the Rock of Cashel is named after a twelfth-century king of Munster.
Cormac has been a steady choice in Ireland throughout the CSO records. It had the most babies in 2006, with 185 boys, and its best rank was number 39 in 2005. It did almost as well in Northern Ireland, reaching 37th in the same year. In 2025, 38 boys were named Cormac.
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Sources
- Wiktionary: Cormac (Irish and Old Irish proper noun)
- Wikipedia: Cormac
- CSO VSA50, Boys Names in Ireland with 3 or More Occurrences
At a glance
Similar names
Sibling ideas
Spellings counted here
| Spelling | 2025 | All years |
|---|---|---|
| Cormac | 38 | 5,729 |
In Northern Ireland
#126 in 2025 with 18 babies. Best rank #37 (2005); 1,200 babies since 1997.
Source: NISRA, Open Government Licence.