Cornell

Cornell is an English form of the male name Cornelius, and in rarer cases, it is also used as a female first name. The name means 'the one or the one from the lineage of the Cornelii'.

What does the name Cornell mean?

Cornell is a rare English variant of Cornelius and Cornelia and carries the meaning 'the one or the one from the lineage of the Cornelii'. Cornelius was originally the gentilic name of the Cornelii, a prominent family in ancient Rome. The exact translation of the name Cornelius as well as its derivative Cornell is unclear. It may derive from the Latin word 'cornu' for 'horn', which could lead to the interpretation 'the one or the one with horns'. The first name Cornell is mainly prevalent in English-speaking areas, particularly in the USA, but is not very common overall. A similar form is Cornel. Other international variants of Cornelius include Corneille (French), Cornelio (Italian, Spanish, Portuguese), Cornelis (Dutch), Corneliu (Romanian), Kornel (Slavic, Hungarian), Kornelije (Croatian), Kornelijus (Lithuanian), Kornelius (German), and Korneliusz (Polish).

Where does the name Cornell come from?

The etymology of Cornell is both Latin and Roman and means 'the one or the one from the lineage of the Cornelii' or 'the one or the one with horns'. The Latin term 'cornu' stands for horn, and the name is prevalent in American English.

How do you pronounce Cornell?

The pronunciation of Cornell is clear and distinct, consisting of two syllables. It is pronounced as 'Kor-nell' [kɔrˈnɛl], with the name clearly structured between the dark beginning 'Cor-' and the stressed ending syllable '-nell'. The rolled or hinted 'r' gives the name resonance and body, while the double consonant '-ll' leaves a firm and conclusive impression. Cornell sounds academic and sovereign – precisely contoured, serious, yet not heavy.

When is the name day of Cornell?

The name day for Cornell is celebrated on September 16 and November 16.

Popularity

In Germany, Cornell is a rare first name. According to current statistics, it ranks 5,840th in the list of the most common male baby names. Its highest ranking was in 2010, reaching 1,532nd place. In the last ten years, Cornell has been given as a first name about 30 times, placing it 4,458th in the ten-year statistics. From 2010 to 2024, it stands at 4,061st place.

Nicknames & pet names

Corneli / Corni / Nellchen

Famous people

• Andrew Cornell Robinson (stonemason from the USA)
• Cornell Borchers (German actress (20th century))
• Cornell Burbage (American football player)
• Cornell Campbell (musician from Jamaica)
• Cornell Capa (photographer from Hungary)
• Cornell Du Preez (South African rugby player)
• Cornell Dupree (American guitarist)
• Cornell Glen (Spanish footballer)
• Cornell Glenn (footballer from Trinidad and Tobago)
• Cornell Gordon (American football player)
• Cornell Gowdy (American football player)
• Cornell Green (American basketball player)
• Cornell Gunter (American musician)
• Cornell Iral Haynes Jr. aka Nelly (US rapper)
• Cornell Krieger (German football player)
• Cornell MacNeil (American opera singer)
• Cornell Mayer (American astronomer)
• Cornell Smelser (jazz musician from Hungary)
• Cornell Warner (basketball player from America)
• Cornell Webster (American football player)