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Cornelius

“Possibly "horn," from Latin (uncertain)” — Latin (uncertain) origin

Boy's name · #1906 in the US (2025) · Timeless

Cornelius has appeared in US records since 1880 — best rank #130 (1882) · 36,407 babies named Cornelius all-time · 1 in 20,000 boys born in 2025.

Around the world: about 1 in 1,300 boys in Norway (2025) · about 1 in 5,400 boys in Austria (2025) · about 1 in 8,300 boys in Sweden (2025).

Appears in 2020-2025 birth records of 8 states. See the full state-by-state map on this page.

Famous Corneliuses

• Cornelius — pope Saint (251 to 253)
• Cornelius Nepos — Roman historian and biographer (c.110 BC–c.25 BC)
• Cornelius Vanderbilt — American businessman and tycoon (1794–1877)
• Cornelius Castoriadis — Greek-French philosopher (1922–1997)
• Cornelius Jansen — Bishop and theologian (1585-1638)

In stories & tradition

• Cornelius the Centurion — Acts of the Apostles · Acts 10
• Cornelius Fudge — Harry Potter · Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
• Cornelius (Scrappy-Doo) — Scooby-Doo · Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated

What Corneliuses become

Among 948 notable people named Cornelius:

Lawyers & judges appear 2.08× more often than among typical names — e.g. Cornelius van Bynkershoek, Dutch jurist (1673-1743).

Browse more boy names — popularity, trends and eras for 5,700+ American names, free.

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