Cordelia
Cordelia is a girl's name of Celtic origin.
Meaning
Daughter of the sea, or heart.
Origin and history
Cordelia is a feminine name of Celtic and Latin origin, traditionally associated with the meaning 'daughter of the sea' or 'heart'. It gained lasting literary fame through Shakespeare's tragedy King Lear as the devoted youngest daughter. In the U.S., Cordelia is a classic, relatively uncommon name that has seen a gentle resurgence in recent years.
Popularity in the United States
12,906 babies in the United States have been named Cordelia since 1880. It ranks #1415 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #976.
States where it is most popular
- TX (13.6 %)
- CA (9.3 %)
- PA (7.4 %)
- NY (7.4 %)
- VA (5.8 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 546 |
| 1890-1900 | 575 |
| 1900-1910 | 600 |
| 1910-1920 | 1,087 |
| 1920-1930 | 1,131 |
| 1930-1940 | 839 |
| 1940-1950 | 780 |
| 1950-1960 | 772 |
| 1960-1970 | 566 |
| 1970-1980 | 352 |
| 1980-1990 | 338 |
| 1990-2000 | 367 |
| 2000-2010 | 1,218 |
| 2010-2019 | 2,277 |
| 2020-2029 | 1,458 |
Famous people named Cordelia
- Cordelia Scaife May: Philanthropist
- Cordelia Biddle: Author, Biographer
Nicknames
Cora, Cordy, Corrie, Delia, Deea
Fun facts
- Cordelia was the loyal and honest youngest daughter of King Lear in William Shakespeare's famous tragedy.
- One of the moons of Uranus is named Cordelia, in honor of the Shakespearean character.