Cornelius
Boy name · #1906 in 2025 · Very rare
How old is the name Cornelius? In official American birth records, Cornelius has been tracked continuously since 1880, giving it 145 years of documented American history.
In 2025, 82 baby boys were named Cornelius, placing it at #1906 in the official national rankings. A decade ago it stood at #1198, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 21,951 boys born in 2025 was named Cornelius.
Babies named Cornelius per year. Source: Official national birth records.
The 145-year story
Cornelius first appears in the Social Security records in 1880, when 92 boys received the name. Its peak came in 1974, when 486 boys were named Cornelius — good for #346 that year. Today's parents encounter it as a name from their grandparents’ generation, which is precisely the vintage window from which names get revived. 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.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Cornelius against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Cornelius in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Cornelius is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "very rare". A high score means genuine rarity — your Cornelius will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Cornelius is most common
State-level data for Cornelius 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 Cornelius
Statistically, parents drawn to Cornelius tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Demetrius, Octavius, Clifton, Christos, and Jacques.
DemetriusOctaviusCliftonChristosJacquesDimitriosClintonFederico
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Cornelius | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 82 | #1906 |
| 2024 | 68 | #2156 |
| 2023 | 83 | #1896 |
| 2022 | 94 | #1760 |
| 2021 | 86 | #1815 |
| 2020 | 111 | #1512 |
| 2019 | 107 | #1564 |
| 2018 | 92 | #1707 |
| 2017 | 106 | #1541 |
| 2016 | 151 | #1234 |
| 2015 | 154 | #1198 |
| 2014 | 152 | #1205 |
| 2013 | 151 | #1186 |
| 2012 | 151 | #1191 |
| 2011 | 154 | #1159 |
| 2010 | 142 | #1240 |
| 2009 | 166 | #1112 |
| 2008 | 199 | #987 |
| 2007 | 200 | #981 |
| 2006 | 204 | #926 |
| 2005 | 175 | #987 |
| 2004 | 173 | #967 |
| 2003 | 222 | #789 |
| 2002 | 192 | #862 |
| 2001 | 185 | #867 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Cornelius?
In official American birth records, the name Cornelius first appeared in 1880 (over 145 years ago), when 92 newborn boys received the name. It has over a century of continuous American history.
Is Cornelius a popular boy name?
Cornelius ranked #1906 among boys in 2025 with 82 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #1198.
When was the name Cornelius most popular?
Cornelius peaked in 1974, when 486 American boys received the name (ranked #346 that year). Since 1974 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Cornelius?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 21,951 newborn American boys was named Cornelius. 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.