Kordell
A masculine name of German origin meaning "full of strength."
Name Census estimates that about 1,710 living Americans carry the first name Kordell. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Kordell today is around 21 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Kordell births was 1998 (174 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Kordell. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
People living today
1.7K
~ 1 in 200,441 Americans
Peak year
1998
174 babies that year
Average age
21
years old
2024 SSA rank
#4,490
Tracked since 1967
Popularity
Kordell: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Kordell from the 1960s through to the 2020s, spanning 7 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1990s, with 640 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 1990s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Kordell by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Kordell during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Kordells live
The SSA's state-level files cover 21 states and territories. Texas, Pennsylvania, California recorded the most babies named Kordell, while Washington, Tennessee, Minnesota recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 19 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Kordell
The name Kordell is a unique and relatively modern name with a fascinating history that spans multiple cultures and time periods. Its origins can be traced back to the Old English word "cord," which means "cord" or "string." This word likely evolved from the Latin word "chorda," which also means "cord" or "string."
In the Middle Ages, the name Kordell may have been used as a surname or occupational name for someone who worked with cords or strings, such as a rope maker or a bowyer. The earliest recorded instance of the name Kordell dates back to the 16th century in England, where it was spelled as "Cordell."
One of the earliest known individuals with the name Kordell was Sir William Cordell (1492-1584), an English lawyer, politician, and Speaker of the House of Commons during the reign of Queen Mary I. He played a significant role in the reformation of the Church of England and was known for his religious tolerance.
Another notable figure with the name Kordell was Kordell Stewart (born 1972), a former American football quarterback who played in the National Football League (NFL) for teams such as the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Chicago Bears. He was known for his versatility as a dual-threat quarterback and was selected to the Pro Bowl in 2001.
In the world of literature, Kordell Kordelleski was the name of a character in the novel "The Hustler" by Walter Tevis, published in 1959. Although a minor character, Kordell Kordelleski's name has become somewhat iconic in the world of pool and billiards.
Kordell Norfleet (born 1974) is an American actor best known for his roles in the television series "Dawson's Creek" and "One Tree Hill." He has also appeared in various films and stage productions throughout his career.
Kordell Williams (born 1988) is a Canadian professional ice hockey player who currently plays for the Detroit Red Wings of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was drafted by the New York Rangers in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft and has also played for the Nashville Predators and the New Jersey Devils.
While the name Kordell has remained relatively uncommon throughout history, it has gained some popularity in recent decades, particularly in the United States. Its unique sound and intriguing origins have contributed to its appeal as a given name, making it a distinctive choice for parents seeking a name with a touch of history and cultural significance.
Notable bearers
Famous people named Kordell
People
Kordell + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Kordell as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with K
Other first names starting with K with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Kordell: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Kordell?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 1,710 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Kordell going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 200,441 US residents.
Is Kordell a common name?
We classify Kordell as "Rare". It ranks above 93% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 1,737 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Kordell most popular?
The single biggest year for Kordell was 1998, when 174 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Kordell is about 21 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Kordell a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Kordell in the SSA data are male. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.