The baby name Corbin has slowly climbed in use to become a mainstream 21st century favorite.
Thanks to Friend of a Friend for suggesting our Baby Name of the Day.
WHAT DOES THE NAME CORBIN MEAN?
Sometimes we can explain a name’s origin with precision.
But just as often, a name develops from several languages and origins. That’s the case with the baby name Corbin.
SCANDINAVIA
Blonde-haired, blue-eyed actor Corbin Bernsen rose to fame on the 80s legal drama LA Law. Bernsen is of Scandinavian descent, but the name’s roots aren’t Norse. Instead, the Old German name Hraban means raven. It’s associated with Saint Korbinian.
MEDIEVAL FRANCE
Also called Saint Corbinius or Corbinian, the saint served as a bishop in Chartres, in the Kingdom of the Franks during the 7th century. While on pilgrimage to Rome, a bear attacked and killed his horse. Undaunted, Korbinian saddled the bear and continued on his way.
His name is said to be of Latin origin, from the word corvus, which is the Latin word for raven or crow.
And so the saint’s name is the same across at least two languages.
ANOTHER ORIGIN FROM FRANCE IN THE MIDDLE AGES
There’s also the Corbin surname. It appears to have evolved in France, from the place name Corbon. There’s also Corbeau, the French word for crow. It might’ve given to someone with dark hair.
Corb was the Anglo-Norman word for a crow. Corbin deveoped in medieval England as a surname, again probably descriptive. It’s a diminutive form that might’ve been familiar in English or Old French, and developed when surnames were new.
GAELIC ROOTS
Moving away from birds, there’s the Irish Corban, originally from the surnameÓ Corbáin. It was also Anglicized as Corben and Corbett.
It probably came from the word corb, meaning chariot. (Chariots have plenty of history in Ireland, though the modern word is carbad.)
Except Corbett is also recorded as an English surname meaning raven, with takes us back to the Latin corvus once more.
KING ARTHUR
If you know your legends of the Holy Grail and adventures of King Arthur, another name might come to mind: Corbenic.
It’s said to be the birthplace of Sir Galahad. The Fisher King guards the Grail here. In some stories, the hero Perceval discovers it, only to realize he can’t go back again.
A beautiful princess called Elaine of Corbenic also features in the stories.
As for the name, Corbenic probably comes from a phrase meaning “horn of plenty.” It’s a cornucopia. Such images appear in Gaelic mythology, but are also interpreted as Christian references to Christ. But there’s a lot here, and we don’t necessarily associate the place with the last name Corbin or any given name, either.
THE FIFTH ELEMENT
As if all the legend, and the Anglo-Norman French Corbin and the Gaelic O’Corbain aren’t enough, popular culture comes into play, too.
French filmmaker Luc Besson gave us sci fi movie The Fifth Element in 1997.
It popularized the name Lilou in France, from one of the characters. But the action hero of it all was Korben Dallas, played by Bruce Willis. A former military officer turned taxi cab driver in the 23rd century, Dallas saves the day.
And also gives us one more reason to know the name.
POPULARITY OF CORBIN AS A GIVEN NAME
The baby name Corbin appears in US census records from the late 19th century on.
Odds are it was a family surname bestowed as a given name.
It increased in popularity during the 1960s and 70s. In 1970, it entered the US Top 1000 at #980.
But it wasn’t until Corbin Bernsen became a household name on 1980s legal drama LA Law that the name really gained traction.
In 1994, the year LA Law ended its run, Corbin ranked #400 for boys born in the United States. It peaked at #203 in the year 2014.
Some of those early Corbins have found fame, like High School Musical’s Corbin Bleu, now a Broadway and musical theater headliner.
As of 2024, the baby name Corbin ranked #473.
Other spellings, including Korbin, have also appared in the Top 1000 popularity charts during the late 1990s into the early part of the 2000s. Even more spellings, like Corbyn, have not quite cracked the rankings.
MODERN STAPLE
With ties to an early medieval saint and the legends of King Arthur, there’s a traditional ring to the baby name Corbin.
And yet, it was nearly unknown – as least as a given name – until the 1980s.
That makes Corbin more of a modern staple. It sounds like a brother for Sawyer or Maddox, an alternative to Hudson or Colton.
If you’re looking for a name that offers plenty of backstory, combined with a strong, modern sound, the baby name Corbin could be exactly right for your family.
What do you think of the baby name Corbin?
First published on August 12, 2008, this post was revised on September 29, 2025.
Spelled like Corban, this name is also mention in the Biblical book of Mark (Mark 7:11) as meaning “a gift.”
*mentioned
We chose to name our son Corbin, I love it, it is a little different and still a strong name for a boy. I am of Greek background and the Greek meaning of the name can be traced to ‘god’s servant’.
Good choice & glad to know expounded meaning in Greek. Our family may consider Corban as a middle name ️️⛵
I agree whole-heartedly with coolteamblt. Corbin is a great alternative name without naming your kid something insane like ‘Celery’ or ‘Fido’. As my family tradition dictates names that begin with K, I had Corbin on my list as Korbin, but further down the list simply because it looks better with a C than a K.
I think they are great alternatives, don’t get me wrong. They are good names, and I would love love love to hear them over Brayden, spelling TBD. I think Ronan, Declan, Lachlan, Gavin, etc. are great alternatives to Logan, Evan, Aidan and friends, I just get a bit tired of them. I definitely would be excited as all get out to meet a small Corbin or Declan, but those kind of names have slowly started to slip down and out of my personal short list. I think that’s why Simon has fallen off my short list!
I would prefer to use something that still fits the familiar but not common bill, like Theodore or Gideon. It’s hard for my husband and I, though. His idea of an adventurous name is to name our dog Roxie. He does get kudos for coming up with Daphne, but he did watch a lot of Scooby Doo as a kid… 😉
His second choice for a girl is Stephanie, a name I can’t stand. He narrowed my top fifty list of boy’s names down to James and William. Growing up as a Kevin in a family of Kens, Marys, Patricias, and Lisas, I guess I can’t blame him. I have the only common name in my immediate family, so I was always a bit jealous. My sister is Amelia, my mother is Margo, and my dad is Brett. Not names I love, but being one of six Katherines in my English class, I got jealous for sure. Kevin didn’t really seem to care, but I definitely want a name that won’t make our kids James H. in school.
Fun insight from both your backgrounds! I luv the names of your parents ✨️
It’s funny – I spent the weekend with friends who are also expecting #2. It was pretty clear they though Clio was a ridiculous name. If their second is a boy, they’re pretty sure they plan to call him Brayden, spelling TBD. I hope I kept a straight face when she said that. 😉
Kayt, I took your approach … hmmm … how about Ronan, Corbin, Declan? The Dad got very excited about Ronan. But the Mom-to-be dismissed all of those as weird. She honestly likes Top 25 names. Their daughter is Emma.
As someone who shed a Top Ten moniker as quickly as I could slither out of it, I don’t understand how parents could do that to their child. It seems like choosing something like Corbin would be a nice compromise – a very current feel, but different enough that you’re not one in the crowd.
I’ve been thinking a lot about this, but I need to settle down and gather my thoughts before I say more – but it’s an interesting discussion.
I adore Corbin, but I’m so tired of the two syllable names, I would never use it. I do suggest it as an alternative to Kayden a lot, though.
I’m nodding out with Lola here . . . I hear Corbin and all I hear is “two syllable boy name that ends in ‘n'”. My son plays with a little Corbin (and a Landon, an Evan, a Mason, two Colins) and it never struck me as an interesting choice.
I love Corbin. I added this one to my list too. It’s really cute but not very common. It’s a great name and it has spark unlike Cory/Corey.
I thoroughly like Korben Dalls (That whole movie ranks in my personal top 10) But Corbin/Korben/Korbin/Corben really doesn’t blip on my radar (Hadn’t even thought Corbin Bernsen until you mentioned him, to be honest) . Two syllable boys names ending in ‘n’? I’m so over them for the most part. I don’t mind some but dislike most. I really wouldn’t mind meeting a Korben or two but he’s never going to be one of mine.