Cornelius

At a Glance: Name: Cornelius – Meaning: horn – Origin: Latin (Roman gens name) – Gender: used for both boys and girls – Pronunciation: kor-NEEL-yus

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Cornelius is a Latin name — it started as a Roman gens (family) name — and its meaning is simply "horn." If you're considering it, you're looking at a name with a long, documented history rather than a modern invention. U.S. birth records for Cornelius stretch all the way back to 1880, so there's over a century of data to see how it's been used.

Meaning & Origin of Cornelius

Meaning: Horn.

Origin: Latin (Roman gens name).

Source: Wiktionary.

How to Pronounce Cornelius

Phonetic: kor-NEEL-yus   IPA: /kɔːrˈniːljəs/

Popularity of Cornelius

Cornelius peaked in popularity in 1882, when it ranked #130 with 107 babies given the name. By 2024 it had fallen to #2150, with only 68 babies named Cornelius that year.

Source: U.S. Social Security Administration birth-name data, 1880–2024.

Make Cornelius Name Art

Free printable nursery art for Cornelius, pre-loaded below — pick a layout, palette, and font, then download a print-ready PNG.

Names With a Similar Story

Derived from shared style, era, and origin data (or, for names we have no style data for, a similar Social Security popularity trajectory) — not a hand-picked list.

• Angus
• Indiana
• Lemuel
• Lavinia
• Oswald
• Roscoe

FAQ

What does the name Cornelius mean?

Horn. (Source: Wiktionary, https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Cornelius)

How do you pronounce Cornelius?

Cornelius is pronounced kor-NEEL-yus (IPA: /kɔːrˈniːljəs/).

Is Cornelius a popular name right now?

Cornelius peaked at #130 in 1882 and is ranked #2150 as of 2024. (U.S. Social Security Administration data, 1880–2024.)

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