Coretta

Coretta is an English diminutive elaboration of Cora, itself derived from the Greek name Kore, meaning maiden or daughter, a title associated with Persephone in ancient Greek mythology. The suffix -etta, borrowed from Italian diminutive conventions, gives the name a more ornate and lyrical character. The name is most famously associated with Coretta Scott King, the American civil rights leader and wife of Martin Luther King Jr., whose prominence helped establish the name in African American communities during the twentieth century. Related forms include Cora, Corinne, and Corinna.