Cornell Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
The name Cornell has Latin origins, meaning 'horn', and has evolved from Cornelius. It gained prominence in the 19th century, particularly linked to Cornell University. The name conveys traits of education and prestige, and it lacks biblical relevance.
The name Cornell is most popular in District of Columbia, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Boy name among the Baby Boomers generation in the South region. Recent 3-year trends show this Boy name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. Recent 3-year trends show this Girl name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. From 2020-2022, Cornell has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, stalled for male in South, stalled for male in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, stalled for male in South, stalled for male in West. Across generations, 'Cornell' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 1041st out of 7545 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 880th out of 6773 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 545th out of 7552 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 656th out of 10718 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 911th out of 16616 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 1751st out of 24088 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 3074th out of 23106 names. Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 3588th out of 9107 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 3988th out of 9204 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 4974th out of 12526 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 13184th out of 19264 names. Discover how the name 'Cornell' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Cornell"
Pronunciation
/kɔːrˈnɛl/
Origin
Latin
Etymology
The name Cornell is derived from the Latin word 'cornu', meaning 'horn'. It is often associated with the name of a prominent family in France and is believed to have been adopted as a surname.
Meaning
horn
Language Evolution
Cornelius (Latin), Cornellius (Latin variant), Cornell (Anglicized form)
Historical Usage
The name gained popularity in the 19th century, particularly in the United States, due to the founding of Cornell University in 1865.
Variants & Derivatives
Cornel, Cornelio, Cornelia
Modern Popularity & Image
Currently, the name Cornell is associated with education and prestige, largely due to the university's reputation.
Famous People
Ezra Cornell (founder of Cornell University), Cornell Woolrich (American author)
Explore More Cornell Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Cornell"
Note: Years with identical rankings may represent different numbers of births. Data is sourced from Social Security card applications for births in the United States.
Yearly Ranking History of "Cornell"
"Cornell" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Boy | 1041st of 7545 | 705 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Boy | 880th of 6773 | 952 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Boy | 545th of 7552 | 3,590 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Boy | 656th of 10718 | 2,507 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Boy | 911th of 16616 | 1,909 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Boy | 1751st of 24088 | 1,199 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Boy | 3074th of 23106 | 460 |
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Girl | 3588th of 9107 | 116 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Girl | 3988th of 9204 | 94 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Girl | 4974th of 12526 | 117 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Girl | 13184th of 19264 | 21 |
Regional Popularity of "Cornell" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
63.63% 901st/1416 |
80.13% 1105th/1379 |
42.48% 1005th/2366 |
- |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
64.49% 997th/1546 |
69.54% 1082nd/1556 |
34.13% 803rd/2353 |
73.11% 1131st/1547 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
21.69% 483rd/2227 |
21.19% 515th/2430 |
16.72% 477th/2853 |
24.76% 687th/2775 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
19.17% 563rd/2937 |
17.31% 603rd/3483 |
17.03% 599th/3518 |
20.77% 840th/4044 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
19.89% 733rd/3685 |
19.13% 856th/4475 |
18.08% 939th/5194 |
22.00% 1390th/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
29.11% 1334th/4582 |
46.05% 2378th/5164 |
22.70% 1660th/7313 |
35.25% 2631st/7463 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
53.44% 2129th/3984 |
- |
46.25% 3155th/6822 |
69.60% 4368th/6276 |
Regional Popularity of "Cornell" by Generation for Female Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - | - | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- | - | - | - |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
State-by-State Popularity of "Cornell"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Cornell" across states, calculated by dividing the number of births with this name in each state by the total births in that state. This methodology provides a standardized measure of popularity regardless of state population size.