Cornelius
Cornelius was the 1908th most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 82 babies. Its best year was 1882, when it ranked 130th; the most babies were born in 1974 (486). Over the last ten years it has moved down 708 places. More babies were named Cornelius in the 1980s than in any other decade.
Meaning Origin uncertain · Latin
Say it kor-NEEL-yus /kɔrˈniljəs/
- Rank in 2025
- #1,908 boys, down 395 places since 2020
- Babies in 2025
- 82boys
- Girls and boys
- Almost always a boy’s name2021–2025
- Peak year
- 1974486 babies
- Total since 1880
- 37,049babies recorded
What does the name Cornelius mean?
Cornelius is a Roman family name (gens Cornelia). DMNES and Wikipedia say it may come from Latin cornu, "horn", but this is not certain. In the New Testament Cornelius is the Roman centurion baptized by Peter (Acts 10), regarded as the first Gentile convert; there were also an early pope and saint of the name. In Ireland it was used to anglicize Conchobhar (Connor). It was common in the US from the 19th century on.
Cornelius (Latin, “Roman family name, perhaps from cornu "horn"”)
How sure is this? Uncertain. The link to cornu "horn" is suggested, not proven.
Related names: Cornelia, Neil, Cornell, Connor.
See also: Latin names.
Sources for this meaning
- Wiktionary, entry 'Cornelius', Wiktionary (Wikimedia Foundation)
- Dictionary of Medieval Names from European Sources, ed. S. L. Uckelman, Edition 2023 no. 1, s.v. 'Cornelius', DMNES (Durham University)
- New Testament, Acts 10:1 (NRSV Updated Edition), Bible Gateway
Nicknames for Cornelius
The usual nicknames for Cornelius are Neil, Connie and Corky. Some parents skip the long form: for every 100 boys named Cornelius in the last five years, 378 were named Neil, against 203 twenty years earlier.
| Nickname | Kind | Rank 2025 | Boys, 5 years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Neil | Traditional | #851 | 1,563 |
| Connie · also for Conrad, Constance | Traditional | — | — |
| Corky | Traditional | — | — |
Nicknames reviewed by our editors; counts are boys given the nickname as their legal first name. Nobody records how many Corneliuss go by each one.
Cornelius popularity since 1880
A few girls are given the name too: 642 since 1888.
| Year | Rank (boys) | Babies (boys) |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #1,908 | 82 |
| 2020 | #1,513 | 111 |
| 2010 | #1,243 | 142 |
| 2000 | #790 | 207 |
| 1990 | #487 | 396 |
| 1980 | #392 | 439 |
| 1970 | #463 | 306 |
| 1960 | #450 | 321 |
| 1950 | #402 | 285 |
| 1940 | #350 | 262 |
| 1930 | #299 | 368 |
| 1920 | #265 | 433 |
| 1910 | #244 | 96 |
| 1900 | #183 | 116 |
| 1890 | #167 | 84 |
| 1880 | #147 | 92 |
How popular is Cornelius, counting every spelling?
Cornelius is the most common spelling of a name family that had 82 boys in 2025 across its spellings. Together these spellings went to 82 boys in 2025.
| Spelling | Babies 2025 | Official rank | Babies 2021–2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cornelius | 82 | #1,908 | 413 |
Spellings count together when they sound the same in American English and are used for the same sex; nicknames and forms that sound different (such as Theo and Theodore) are kept apart. How we group spellings.
How many kids will share the name Cornelius?
82 of the 3,606,400 babies born in the US in 2025 were named Cornelius (0.02 per 1,000 births). For a boy named Cornelius born in 2025, the chance that another child with the same name is in a class of 20 children the same age is under 1 in 50. If every grade liked the name as much as the 2025 babies do, only about one elementary school in 102 (of 430 pupils) would have a child named Cornelius.
Shares of all registered births (NCHS); classes assumed to be children born the same year. How we estimate this.
How old are people named Cornelius?
About 19,900 people born in the US named Cornelius are alive today, with a median age of 45; half are between 32 and 61. That makes Cornelius mostly worn by adults in their thirties to fifties.
Babies given the name each year (SSA) times the share of that birth year still alive (SSA life tables). Counts people born in the US only. Method.
Cornelius by state
How common Cornelius was among boys born in each state in 2021–2025. It is notably more common than nationally in Georgia (2.1×). In 40 states fewer than five boys a year got the name, too few for SSA to publish, so those states show as zero.
Names with a similar history
These names rose and fell in step with Cornelius: their share of US boys followed the most similar curve since 1880. If you like Cornelius, they share its era and feel.
Middle names for Cornelius · Sibling names for Cornelius
Questions about the name Cornelius
What does Cornelius mean?
The origin of Cornelius is uncertain: the link to cornu "horn" is suggested, not proven.
How popular is the name Cornelius?
Cornelius was the 1908th most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 82 babies. Its best year was 1882, when it ranked 130th; the most babies were born in 1974 (486). Over the last ten years it has moved down 708 places. More babies were named Cornelius in the 1980s than in any other decade.
Is Cornelius a boy or girl name?
In 2021–2025, almost always a boy’s name given the name Cornelius in the US.
Where is Cornelius most popular?
In 2021–2025, Cornelius was most common in Georgia (0.10 per 1,000 boys), followed by Michigan and Tennessee.