Cordell
Boy name · #1978 in 2025 · Very rare
How old is the name Cordell? In official American birth records, Cordell has been tracked continuously since 1904, giving it 121 years of documented American history.
Cordell is currently the #1978 boy name in the United States — 77 babies received it in 2025. A decade ago it stood at #1346, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 23,377 boys born in 2025 was named Cordell.
The 121-year story
Cordell first appears in the Social Security records in 1904, when 6 boys received the name. Its peak came in 1998, when 387 boys were named Cordell — good for #531 that year. Today's parents encounter it on its way down the popularity curve, which for many parents is exactly the appeal. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Babies named Cordell per year. Source: Official national birth records.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Cordell against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Cordell in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Cordell is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "very rare". A high score means genuine rarity — your Cordell will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Cordell is most common
State-level data for Cordell is too sparse in 2025 to rank by rate — in most states its count falls below the SSA's per-state reporting threshold (counts under 5 are withheld).
Names like Cordell
Statistically, parents drawn to Cordell tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Marcell, Tyrell, Markell, Terrell, and Kendell.
MarcellTyrellMarkellTerrellKendellKordellLatrellMontrell
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Cordell | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 77 | #1976 |
| 2024 | 69 | #2133 |
| 2023 | 89 | #1803 |
| 2022 | 87 | #1839 |
| 2021 | 82 | #1870 |
| 2020 | 90 | #1716 |
| 2019 | 78 | #1899 |
| 2018 | 87 | #1762 |
| 2017 | 125 | #1402 |
| 2016 | 114 | #1491 |
| 2015 | 130 | #1346 |
| 2014 | 119 | #1414 |
| 2013 | 124 | #1361 |
| 2012 | 109 | #1478 |
| 2011 | 127 | #1331 |
| 2010 | 138 | #1263 |
| 2009 | 195 | #1008 |
| 2008 | 279 | #786 |
| 2007 | 165 | #1102 |
| 2006 | 137 | #1224 |
| 2005 | 127 | #1245 |
| 2004 | 167 | #991 |
| 2003 | 173 | #946 |
| 2002 | 189 | #868 |
| 2001 | 244 | #720 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Cordell?
In official American birth records, the name Cordell first appeared in 1904 (over 121 years ago), when 6 newborn boys received the name. It has been tracked in modern national records for 121 years.
Is Cordell a popular boy name?
Cordell ranked #1978 among boys in 2025 with 77 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #1346.
When was the name Cordell most popular?
Cordell peaked in 1998, when 387 American boys received the name (ranked #531 that year). Since 1998 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Cordell?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 23,377 newborn American boys was named Cordell. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "very rare".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.