Cornelius
Boy name · #1906 in 2025 · Uniqueness 78/100
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, 1880–2025. Source: SSA.
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?
Cornelius scores 78 out of 100 on our uniqueness scale, which blends current rarity with five-year momentum — putting it in the "rare" band. 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
Geography matters for names, and Cornelius is no exception. In 2025 the states with the most Corneliuss were TX (10), CA (7), MI (7). Raw counts naturally favor populous states, but the spread still hints at where the name is part of the local naming culture.
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
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. It scores 78/100 on our uniqueness scale (rarity blended with momentum), which we classify as "rare".
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration name statistics, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect Social Security card applications; names with fewer than 5 occurrences in a state-year are suppressed by the SSA.