Korinna is the Ancient Greek form of Corinna, derived from the Greek word kore meaning "maiden." The name thus carries connotations of youth and unmarried womanhood in classical Greek culture.
Notable Bearer
The most famous historical bearer is the Boeotian poet Korinna (fl. 5th century BC), known from ancient sources such as Plutarch and Pausanias. She competed in poetry contests with the male poet Pindar, reportedly winning in at least one instance. Only fragments of her work survive, but they celebrate mythological stories in local Tanagran dialect. Tradition holds that she advised Pindar to avoid excessive mythological elaboration—a rare female voice in a male-dominated literary world.
Cultural Significance
In the modern era, Edward Johnston's typography for the London Underground and later a 1974 ITC revival by Ed Benguiat and Vic Caruso adopted the form "Korinna" as the name of a serif typeface. This extends the name's legacy beyond Classical lore into graphic design history. Related names include the French Corinne and Corine, English Coreen, the Italian Corinna, and the classical mythological Cora (from Greek Kore). The name has been used for fictional characters as well, as Ovid applied the Latinized form Corinna to his poetic love interest in the Amores.
- Meaning: "maiden"
- Origin: Ancient Greek
- Type: First name
- Usage: Ancient Greek