Origin, Meaning, And History of Cordelia
The name Cordelia is a girl’s name with Latin origins derived from the Latin word ‘cor’ or ‘cordis’ meaning ‘heart.’ According to another theory, Cordelia is derived from the Celtic name ‘Creiryddlydd,’ which means ‘daughter of the sea.’ In Celtic culture, it is assigned to someone who is destined for the ocean in a poetic sense. It also has some roots in Welsh culture, referring to ‘jewel of the sea.’
In French, Cordelia emerges from the phrase ‘coeur de lion’ meaning ‘heart of a lion,’ while in Greek, it is derived from the word ‘kore’ meaning ‘girl’ or ‘maiden.’ Cordelia was a relatively popular name in the 1800s and 1900s with variations like Coralia, Coredilla, Cordoylla, Cordula, and Kordelia, and with nicknames Cora, Cory, Danny, Del, Della, Delly, Delia, and Lia.
Cordelia was a popular name in Ancient Rome and was a legendary queen of the Celtic Britons as recounted by Geoffrey of Monmouth in his chronicle. She was the youngest daughter of the legendary King of the Britons, Leir, and the second ruling queen of the British Iron Age. Cordelia is also the innermost and the closest moon of the planet Uranus, discovered from the images taken by Voyager 2 in 1986.
The name has evolved from the Welsh legend which became a source for William Shakespeare’s tragic play ‘King Lear.’Cordeliais King Lear’s youngest daughter and is his favorite, representing goodness and loyalty. She is honest, pure, and brave and has been contrasted with her elder sisters, Goneril and Regan, who are portrayed as dishonest and manipulative.
Cordelia Frostis another fictional character appearing in ‘Marvel Comics’ who is the younger sister of Emma and Adrienne Frost and was considered ‘lost’ by her parents. Cordelia can also be associated with some mythological symbols like the ocean, flowers, waves, and fairies.
How To Pronounce Cordelia?
Famous People With The Name Cordelia
- Cordelia HarveyAmerican Civil War nurse and Former First Lady of Wisconsin
- Cordelia GreeneAmerican physicist, founder of Castile Sanitarium
- Cordelia de CastellaneFrench designer and artistic director of Dior
- 科迪莉亚诺特American entrepreneur and founder of Mrs. Knott’s Chicken Dinner restaurant
- Cordelia FineCanadian-British philosopher of science, known for her notable work ‘Testosterone Rex’
Cordelia On The Popularity Chart
Cordelia was not a popular name. However, it gained a thrust in the 2000s and is a fairly popular name today.
Popularity Over Time
With only 46 babies per million with the name Cordelia in 1999, it surged in popularity in 2015 when the number increased significantly. It is still a popular name in the US with 251 babies per million carrying the name even in 2021.
Source:Social Security AdministrationRank Over Time
Cordelia was on the list of the top 3000 names in the US till 2001 after which its ranking improved and paved its way to enter among the top 1000 names in 2021.
Source:Social Security AdministrationNames With Similar Sound As Cordelia
Do you want to name one of your twins Cordelia and are looking for a similar- sounding name for the other one? You can take a look at the suggestions below.
Popular Sibling Names For Cordelia
Other Popular Names Beginning With C
Names With Similar Meaning As Cordelia
If you have always wanted to name your child with unique meanings but don’t like Cordelia, below are some names that have the same meaning as Cordelia.
Infographic: Know The Name’s Personality As Per Numerology
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How To Communicate The Name In Other Languages
In Nautical Flags
cordelia
In Sign Language
cordelia
In Braille Alphabet
cordelia
In Morse Code
cordelia
Name Numerology For Cordelia
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is the meaning of the name Cordelia?
The name Cordelia means ‘heart.’
2. What is the origin of the name Cordelia?
Cordelia has Celtic and Latin origins.
3. How to pronounce the name Cordelia?
Cordelia is pronounced as kow-deh-lee-uh.
4. How many babies are named Cordelia?
Cordelia peaked in popularity in 1900 when 79 baby girls shared the name. Since then, the name has been gradually declining in popularity. Nevertheless, according to the SSA statistics, as of 2015, it was given to 286 US babies (1).
5. Can Cordelia be used as a unisex name?
Cordelia is primarily used for girls in most regions worldwide. Its Celtic meaning of ‘daughter of the sea’ further emphasizes its female-specific usage.
6. What are some middle names that go well with Cordelia?
References:
- Popularity of name Cordelia.
https://www.ssa.gov/oact/babynames/
