Cornelius first name popularity, history and meaning

Find out how popular the first name Cornelius has been for the last 50 years (from 1974 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Meaning of Cornelius

Masculine name of Latin origin meaning "of the horn".

Popularity of Cornelius by gender

Based on the last 50 years of data, Cornelius is more commonly used as a male name, with approximately 99% of people named Cornelius being male.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 83 male babies and 0 female babies born with the name Cornelius.

Year Male Count Female Count
2023 83 0
2022 93 0
2021 85 0
2020 110 0
2019 107 0
2018 92 0
2017 106 0
2016 151 0
2015 154 0
2014 152 0
2013 150 0
2012 151 0
2011 154 0
2010 142 0
2009 166 0
2008 199 0
2007 200 0
2006 204 0
2005 175 0
2004 173 0
2003 222 0
2002 192 0
2001 185 0
2000 207 0
1999 230 0
1998 237 0
1997 222 0
1996 244 0
1995 261 0
1994 273 0
1993 306 0
1992 353 0
1991 369 0
1990 396 5
1989 432 0
1988 374 8
1987 393 8
1986 392 10
1985 378 7
1984 410 9
1983 386 5
1982 422 9
1981 454 6
1980 439 11
1979 399 7
1978 426 9
1977 409 6
1976 411 5
1975 416 9
1974 485 12

The history of the first name Cornelius

The name Cornelius has its origins in the Roman family name Cornelius, which derived from the Latin word cornu, meaning "horn". It was a prominent patrician family in ancient Rome, with members playing influential roles throughout Roman history.

The name first gained prominence with Lucius Cornelius Sulla, a Roman dictator who lived from 138 BC to 78 BC. He was a powerful military leader and played a significant role in the Roman civil wars of the 1st century BC.

Another notable figure with the name Cornelius was Cornelius Nepos, a Roman biographer who lived from around 100 BC to 24 BC. He is best known for his work "De Viris Illustribus" (On Illustrious Men), which contained biographies of famous Greek and Roman figures.

In the New Testament of the Bible, Cornelius is mentioned as a Roman centurion who was the first Gentile convert to Christianity, as described in the Acts of the Apostles. This event marked a significant turning point in the early Christian church, as it opened the door for non-Jews to embrace the faith.

During the Middle Ages, the name Cornelius was popular among Christian families, particularly in Western Europe. One notable bearer of the name was Cornelius Jansen, a Dutch theologian and bishop who lived from 1585 to 1638. He was the founder of the theological movement known as Jansenism, which had a significant influence on Catholic thought.

In the 17th century, Cornelius Vermuyden was a Dutch engineer and land drainage pioneer who played a crucial role in the draining of the Great Level of the Fens in eastern England. He lived from 1590 to 1677 and his work transformed vast areas of marshland into arable farmland.

Other notable individuals named Cornelius include Cornelius Evertsen the Elder, a 17th-century Dutch naval officer and admiral who fought against the English and Swedish fleets during the Anglo-Dutch Wars, and Cornelius Tacitus, a Roman historian who lived from around 56 AD to 120 AD and is known for his detailed chronicles of the Roman Empire.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Cornelius was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Cornelius, please contact us.

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"Cornelius first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on October 31, 2024. http://namecensus.com/first-names/cornelius-meaning-and-history/.

"Cornelius first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/first-names/cornelius-meaning-and-history/. Accessed 31 October, 2024

Cornelius first name popularity, history and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/first-names/cornelius-meaning-and-history/.

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