This post contains affiliate links.
At a Glance: – Meaning: Heart; daughter of the sea – Origin: Latin/Celtic – Gender: Girl – Pronunciation: kor-DEEL-yah
Cordelia is a name of rare elegance—literary, romantic, and timelessly sophisticated. Made famous by Shakespeare’s most loyal daughter in King Lear, Cordelia carries meanings of love, devotion, and the sea.
It’s a name for parents who want something classic but uncommon, beautiful but substantial.
Meaning & Origin of Cordelia
Cordelia has two possible etymological roots:
Latin origin: From the Latin word "cor" meaning "heart." This connects Cordelia to love, emotion, and the core of being.
Celtic origin: Possibly derived from the Welsh name Creiddylad, meaning "daughter of the sea" or connected to "Cordula," a Celtic saint.
Literary history: While the name existed before Shakespeare, his use of it in King Lear (1606) cemented its place in literary history. In the play, Cordelia is the youngest and most devoted daughter of King Lear—honest, loving, and loyal to a fault.
The Cordelia character: Shakespeare’s Cordelia represents: – Honesty and integrity – Unconditional love – Quiet strength – Loyalty even in adversity
These associations give the name a depth of character that goes beyond mere sound.
Saint Cordula: A Christian martyr associated with Saint Ursula, adding a religious dimension to the name.
How to Pronounce Cordelia
Phonetic: kor-DEEL-yah
Four syllables with emphasis on the second syllable (DEEL).
Common variations: – kor-DEEL-ee-ah (four syllables, more deliberate) – kor-DAYL-yah (some regional variations)
Note: The name flows beautifully and has a musical quality that makes it memorable.
Popularity of Cordelia
Cordelia remains relatively uncommon, which adds to its appeal:
U.S. Popularity: – Current rank: #484 (2024) – First entered Top 1000: Has moved in and out historically – Re-entered Top 500: 2020s – Trend: Slowly rising
Historical popularity: – Used in the Victorian era – Declined through mid-20th century – Reviving with the vintage name trend
Why it’s still uncommon: – Length (4 syllables) limits everyday use – Strong literary association – Requires a certain confidence to carry
Why it’s rising: – Fits the trend toward elaborate, vintage girl names – Beautiful nickname options (Cora, Delia) – Literary parents love the Shakespeare connection – Stands out without being weird
Famous People Named Cordelia
Fictional Characters: – Cordelia — Loyal daughter in Shakespeare’s King Lear – Cordelia Chase — Character in Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel – Cordelia Foxx — Character in American Horror Story: Coven – Cordelia — Character in Brideshead Revisited
Historical: – Saint Cordula — Christian martyr
Modern: – Because the name has been uncommon, there are few famous modern Cordelias—yet. This is part of its appeal for parents wanting a distinctive name.
Nicknames & Variations
Popular nicknames for Cordelia: – Cora — Elegant and currently popular – Delia — Classic Greek standalone name – Cordy — Casual and friendly (Buffy fans will recognize this) – Lia — Modern and simple – Cori/Cory — Playful option – Della — Vintage charm – Dee — Simple and short
Spelling variations: – Cordelia — Standard spelling – Kordelia — K variation – Cordélia — French accent mark
Related names: – Cora — Similar beginning, standalone name – Delia — The ending as its own name – Ophelia — Similar Shakespearean elegance – Cordula — Saint name variation
Names Similar to Cordelia
If you love Cordelia, you might also like:
For Girls: – Ophelia — Shakespearean, similar elegance – Arabella — Elaborate, vintage, beautiful – Seraphina — Long, elegant, romantic – Evangeline — Literary, four syllables – Penelope — Classical, same length – Rosalind — Another Shakespeare beauty – Genevieve — French elegance
For Boys (matching sibling): – Sebastian — Shakespearean – Theodore — Same elaborate vintage feel – Benedict — Literary and classic
Sibling Names for Cordelia
Sister names that pair well with Cordelia: – Cordelia & Rosalind — Shakespeare sisters – Cordelia & Beatrice — Literary pair – Cordelia & Violet — Vintage elegance – Cordelia & Evangeline — Elaborate beauties – Cordelia & Juliet — Romantic literary duo
Brother names that pair well with Cordelia: – Cordelia & Sebastian — Shakespearean siblings – Cordelia & Theodore — Elaborate vintage pair – Cordelia & Frederick — Classic formality – Cordelia & Benedict — Literary connection – Cordelia & Edmund — King Lear character (though be careful with associations)
Middle Names for Cordelia
Because Cordelia is long, shorter middle names often work best:
Classic pairings: – Cordelia Rose — Elegant simplicity – Cordelia Jane — Grounded and classic – Cordelia Grace — Beautiful meaning echo – Cordelia Mae — Vintage charm – Cordelia Anne — Traditional and clean
Modern pairings: – Cordelia Wren — Long meets short – Cordelia Sage — Nature balance – Cordelia Quinn — Contemporary middle – Cordelia Blair — Strong and chic
Longer middle options: – Cordelia Elizabeth — Grand and traditional – Cordelia Josephine — Vintage doubled – Cordelia Vivienne — French elegance
One-syllable options (recommended): – Cordelia Pearl – Cordelia Claire – Cordelia Faith – Cordelia June – Cordelia Kate
More Baby Name Inspiration
Love this elegant name? Save and share with expecting friends!
