The first name Cornell
A boy’s name.
2 syllables Male Also a surname
Meaning and origin
From Cornwall, spelling conflated with the Latin family name Cornelius.
From Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Popularity
Babies registered in England and Wales, 1996–2025
Cornell last appeared in the official list in 2012, given to 5 boys. It peaked in 2003, with 5 births (#2,470).
Office for National Statistics; years with fewer than three births are not published and show as zero. Compare Cornell with other names.
Popularity in the United States
Babies named Cornell at birth, 1880–2025
In 2025, 14 boys born in the United States were named Cornell, the 6,194th most popular boys’ name that year. It was used most in 1962, when 241 were.
US Social Security Administration, from applications for a Social Security card. A name is only published for a year when at least five babies were given it, so quieter years show as zero.
Famous people named Cornell
5 on Wikidata, most written-about first
- Cornell BorchersGerman actress (1925-2014)
- Cornell CapaAmerican photographer (1918–2008)
- Cornell DupreeAmerican R&B/soul jazz guitarist (1942–2011)
- Cornell MacNeilAmerican opera singer (1922-2011)
- Antonio BurksAmerican profession basketball player, born 1980
Questions
- What does the name Cornell mean?
- From Cornwall, spelling conflated with the Latin family name Cornelius.
- How popular is the name Cornell?
- In 2012, 5 boys born in England and Wales were named Cornell, ranking 3,416th. Its peak was 2003, with 5 births.
- Is Cornell a boy's or a girl's name?
- Mostly a boy's name: 97% of the 11,695 US babies named Cornell since 1880 were boys.
- When was Cornell most popular?
- 1962 in the United States, when 241 babies were named Cornell, its highest rank at 508th.
- Is Cornell also a surname?
- Yes. Cornell is used as a surname as well as a first name; its surname page has the origin and how many people carry it.