Girl
Latin / Celtic
4 syllables
Cordelia
kor-DEEL-ee-uh
/kɔːrˈdiː.li.ə/
"Heart of the sea" — a Shakespearean name of rare moral beauty and quiet depth
Cordelia may derive from the Latin cor meaning heart, or from the Celtic name Creirddylad meaning jewel of the sea. It is best known as the name of King Lear's youngest and most virtuous daughter in Shakespeare's tragedy. The name largely disappeared after the 19th century but has been rising rapidly as parents seek literary names with substance. It is associated with honesty, moral courage, and quiet strength.
Quick Facts
Letters8
SyllablesCor · de · li · a
GenderGirl
OriginLatin / Celtic
Root WordCor / Celtic Creirddylad
MeaningHeart, daughter of the sea
PopularityUncommon
Peak Year2020
Trend
↑ Rising
Name DayN/A
Nicknames
CordieDeliaCoraCorLia
About the Name Cordelia
Cordelia likely means heart from Latin cor, or jewel of the sea from the Celtic Creirddylad. Its exact etymology is debated but both meanings suit the character's depth.
Yes. Cordelia is the youngest and most virtuous daughter in King Lear (1606). Her character is beloved for her honesty and moral courage.
Cordelia has been rising strongly since around 2015 and re-entered the US top 500. It is considered one of the most fashionable literary names for girls today.
Cora, Delia, and Cordie are all beautiful short forms that make the four-syllable name more casual without losing its elegance.
Cordelia Rose, Cordelia Jane, and Cordelia Mae are lovely combinations that let the long first name breathe with a short middle name.
Cora can be used as a nickname for Cordelia and both may share Latin roots in cor (heart), but Cora also exists as a fully independent name with Greek origins.
Personality of Cordelia
Perceived character traits commonly associated with people named Cordelia
Creativity
80%
Elegance
90%
Independence
88%
Intelligence
88%
Strength
84%
Warmth
82%
Famous People Named Cordelia
C
Cordelia (King Lear)
The virtuous youngest daughter in Shakespeare's King Lear, embodying honesty and filial love
C
Cordelia Chase
Fan-favorite character from Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel, played by Charisma Carpenter
C
Cordelia (moon)
An inner moon of Uranus, discovered by Voyager 2 in 1986
Middle Names for Cordelia
Beautiful combinations that flow well with Cordelia
Cordelia Rose
Cordelia Jane
Cordelia Anne
Cordelia Mae
Cordelia Violet
Cordelia Pearl
Cordelia Grace
Cordelia Beatrice
Cordelia Elspeth
Cordelia Wren
Names Similar to Cordelia
Similar Sound
Similar Meaning
Sibling Name Ideas
History of Cordelia
1606
Shakespeare writes King Lear, immortalizing Cordelia as a symbol of honest, selfless love
1800s
Cordelia used in Victorian England, beloved by literary families
1990s
Cordelia Chase on Buffy the Vampire Slayer introduces the name to a new generation
2020
Cordelia re-enters the US top 500 as literary and vintage names surge in popularity
Numerology & Symbolism of Cordelia
4
Destiny Number
Sum of all letters
3
Soul Urge
Sum of vowels
♍
Zodiac Affinity
Pisces
9
Lucky Number
Personal power digit
🎨
Lucky Color
Sea Blue
💎
Lucky Stone
Aquamarine
🌸
Lucky Flower
Forget-Me-Not
Cordelia Around the World
How Cordelia is written in different languages and scripts
كورديليا
Arabic
コーデリア
Japanese
Корделия
Russian
코델리아
Korean
科迪莉亚
Chinese
Κορδέλια
Greek
कॉर्डेलिया
Hindi
קורדליה
Hebrew
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