Cordelia Girl

Popularity: #693 · Trend: ↘ Falling

Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: kor-DEEL-yah //kɔːrˈdiːliə//

Origin: Latin; Celtic

Meaning: Latin: 'heart'; Celtic: 'daughter of the sea'

Historical & Cultural Background

The name Cordelia has its roots in the Latin word "cor" meaning "heart," which is often interpreted as "daughter of the sea" from the Celtic elements "cor" (heart) and "deli" (sea). The name was popularized in the English language through its use in William Shakespeare's play "King Lear," written in the early 17th century, where Cordelia is portrayed as a virtuous and loyal daughter.

This association with Shakespeare has significantly influenced the name's cultural resonance in literature and drama. Before Shakespeare, the name Cordelia appeared in Geoffrey of Monmouth's "Historia Regum Britanniae" in the 12th century, where it was used to describe a daughter of King Lear, further embedding it in the literary canon.

The character's tragic fate and unwavering loyalty have contributed to the name's enduring significance in Western literature. Additionally, the name has been linked to various historical figures and saints, although these connections are less prominent than those stemming from Shakespeare's work.

Culturally, Cordelia has come to symbolize purity, loyalty, and the complexities of familial relationships, often evoking themes of love and sacrifice. The name has been embraced in various artistic expressions, including literature, theater, and music, reinforcing its place in the cultural imagination.

The diminutive form "Cora" has also been used, although it carries its own distinct etymological roots and associations. Overall, Cordelia's journey through history reflects a blend of linguistic evolution and rich cultural narratives that continue to resonate.

Famous people named Cordelia

In this section, you will find notable people named Cordelia. We include individuals across a wide range of fields, including actors known for their work in film, television, and stage productions. You'll also find musicians, directors, and other public figures named Cordelia who have made a significant impact on popular culture.

We also feature individuals named Cordelia who have made meaningful contributions to science, politics, athletics, literature, and other areas of public interest.

Please note that not every baby name in our database currently has a famous namesake listed. If you would like to suggest a name we may have missed or submit a correction, feel free to contact us. We review and finalize additions and corrections within 24 hours.

Cordelia Chase is a character best known for her role in Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel.

Cordelia Fine is a psychologist and author best known for Delusions of Gender, Testosteronex, and A Mind of Its Own.

Fictional characters named Cordelia

The following list of fictional characters named Cordelia is a work in progress. If you would like to suggest an additional character, please send us the character's name along with a brief, one-sentence description of what they are best known for.

You may also submit corrections, which we will review and update as quickly as possible.

Cordelia Chase is a fictional character from the TV series Buffy the Vampire Slayer and its spin-off Angel. She is a former high school cheerleader who evolves into a key ally and a strong, independent character throughout the series.

Cordelia is a fictional character from the play King Lear by William Shakespeare. She is the youngest daughter of King Lear, known for her honesty and loyalty, ultimately representing virtue in contrast to her sisters.

Sibling suggestions

If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Cordelia, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.

CassandraJulietIsadoraEvangelineArabellaSeraphina

Similar names

Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Cordelia. These names can serve as alternatives to the sibling suggestions listed above and may help you find the perfect complementary name for your growing family.

CorneliaCeciliaAureliaOpheliaLydiaAmeliaDelilahMirabel

U.S. Historical Usage

The name Cordelia was first seen in the United States in 1880.

Cordelia has ranked as high as #1741 nationally, which occurred in 2015, and has been most popular in Texas, California, Pennsylvania, New York, and Virginia.

In the past 5 years the name Cordelia has been trending up compared to the previous 5 years.

Popularity Over Time (National)

The name Cordelia is part of our comprehensive baby names database, which includes Social Security Administration (SSA) data dating back to 1880—the first official year of state and national tracking. The chart below shows when Cordelia was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.

Popularity Over Time (National) — Table

We track the national popularity of each baby name annually. The table below displays each year along with the number of births reported by the Social Security Administration. This data combines all state-level reporting from the SSA's baby names database to provide a comprehensive view of overall birth counts for Cordelia.

Year Total Births Girl
2025 258 258
2024 233 233
2023 220 220
2022 242 242
2021 253 253
2020 252 252
2019 231 231
2018 249 249
2017 210 210
2016 263 263
2015 286 286
2014 267 267
2013 201 201
2012 208 208
2011 181 181
2010 181 181
2009 175 175
2008 132 132
2007 111 111
2006 129 129
2005 149 149
2004 128 128
2003 150 150
2002 115 115
2001 65 65
2000 64 64
1999 46 46
1998 58 58
1997 32 32
1996 25 25
1995 44 44
1994 29 29
1993 34 34
1992 31 31
1991 30 30
1990 38 38
1989 42 42
1988 39 39
1987 39 39
1986 28 28
1985 30 30
1984 28 28
1983 29 29
1982 34 34
1981 29 29
1980 40 40
1979 30 30
1978 31 31
1977 31 31
1976 41 41
1975 39 39
1974 27 27
1973 40 40
1972 33 33
1971 41 41
1970 39 39
1969 40 40
1968 39 39
1967 41 41
1966 67 67
1965 48 48
1964 61 61
1963 54 54
1962 76 76
1961 61 61
1960 79 79
1959 67 67
1958 79 79
1957 77 77
1956 93 93
1955 74 74
1954 68 68
1953 78 78
1952 67 67
1951 83 83
1950 86 86
1949 77 77
1948 90 90
1947 65 65
1946 79 79
1945 68 68
1944 89 89
1943 75 75
1942 70 70
1941 81 81
1940 86 86
1939 87 87
1938 69 69
1937 109 109
1936 92 92
1935 77 77
1934 67 67
1933 76 76
1932 84 84
1931 89 89
1930 89 89
1929 95 95
1928 79 79
1927 109 109
1926 113 113
1925 99 99
1924 131 131
1923 129 129
1922 115 115
1921 141 141
1920 120 120
1919 146 146
1918 125 125
1917 130 130
1916 147 147
1915 135 135
1914 89 89
1913 94 94
1912 90 90
1911 56 56
1910 75 75
1909 69 69
1908 56 56
1907 61 61
1906 57 57
1905 72 72
1904 54 54
1903 52 52
1902 49 49
1901 51 51
1900 79 79
1899 62 62
1898 68 68
1897 71 71
1896 51 51
1895 54 54
1894 52 52
1893 62 62
1892 56 56
1891 51 51
1890 48 48
1889 57 57
1888 54 54
1887 58 58
1886 64 64
1885 58 58
1884 58 58
1883 51 51
1882 39 39
1881 49 49
1880 58 58

Top States for Cordelia (2024)

We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. The table below shows the five states with the highest number of births for this name in the selected year. Use the toggle to expand the list to every state with reported births.

State Births Share
CA 18
10%
FL 18
10%
NY 17
10%
OH 12
7%
TX 12
7%
MI 11
6%
MO 9
5%
TN 8
5%
MA 7
4%
MN 7
4%
WI 6
3%
OK 6
3%
PA 6
3%
CO 6
3%
NC 6
3%
VA 6
3%
IL 5
3%
IN 5
3%
NJ 5
3%
WA 5
3%