Holding steady.
Popularity of Cordie since 1880
Babies named Cordie per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1919, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Cordie's real moment was 1892.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls | Boys |
|---|---|---|
| 1880s | 193 | 0 |
| 1890s | 361 | 0 |
| 1900s | 321 | 7 |
| 1910s | 443 | 43 |
| 1920s | 333 | 55 |
| 1930s | 184 | 6 |
| 1940s | 93 | 26 |
| 1950s | 90 | 24 |
| 1960s | 29 | 0 |
| 1970s | 0 | 0 |
| 1980s | 5 | 6 |
| 1990s | 12 | 0 |
| 2000s | 0 | 0 |
| 2010s | 0 | 0 |
| 2020s | 0 | 0 |
Meaning & origin
Cordie is a sweet, vintage nickname name that peaked in 1892, a time when diminutives like Nellie and Effie were also common. After that peak it maintained a stable usage through the late 19th and early 20th centuries, but it has since fallen out of regular use on birth certificates. The name is a shortened form of Cordelia, a literary name from Shakespeare's 'King Lear'. Cordie's trajectory remained steady through the 1890s and beyond, never disappearing entirely even as it became rare. Parents today drawn to old-fashioned, friendly names might rediscover this once-popular choice.
Cordie originated as a pet form of Cordelia, a name of debated etymology. The most popular theory links Cordelia to the Latin word 'cor' (heart), while another suggests a Welsh derivation from 'cŵr' (heart). The name Cordelia itself was popularized by Shakespeare in his play 'King Lear' (1606), and Cordie emerged as a familiar, affectionate shortening in the 19th century.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Cor, Cory, Dee
Variants: Cordy
Sibling names for Cordie
Names that share Cordie's style, for a brother or sister.
