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Home โ€บ Baby Names Directory โ€บ Cordell

Cordell

โ™‚ Boy

How to Pronounce Cordell

Pronounced kawr-DEHL /kษ”ษน.หˆdษ›l/Medium

Meaning: Maker of cordMedium

In 30 seconds: Cordell is an English boy's name meaning 'maker of cord' or 'cord-seller', from a medieval occupational surname.
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Origin MediumEnglish
MeaningMaker of cord
U.S. rank (2025)#1977 โ†— Rising
2025 U.S. births77 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)
Peak year1998
Total births (all-time)โ‰ˆ 10,760
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Popularity in the U.S. ยท SSA data

peak 199819042025

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880โ€“present). Pink marker = peak year.

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

It began as a surname for someone who made or sold cord and rope, one of the many English trade names that later crossed over into use as first names. The meaning is plainly practical, tied to a working craft rather than a grand idea. As a given name it has a smooth, two-syllable swing that softens its workaday roots.

Two notable bearers carry the name: Cordell Hull, the long-serving U.S. Secretary of State who won the 1945 Nobel Peace Prize, and Cordell Mosson, bassist for Parliament-Funkadelic. Between a statesman and a funk musician, the name has stretched across very different worlds.

Did you know? Cordell likely reached first-name use through a surname or place-name route, which gives it that modern borrowed-from-history feel.
Overall data confidence 78%
Behind the Name - Cordell โ€” etymology, usage, pronunciation, and related formsU.S. Social Security Administration โ€” 2024 popularity rank and count supplied in the batch input CSV

Variations

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Nicknames

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Famous Bearers

  • โ˜…Cordell Hull (1871โ€“1955)
    U.S. Secretary of State and 1945 Nobel Peace Prize laureate.
  • โ˜…Cordell Mosson (1952โ€“2013)
    American bassist for Parliament-Funkadelic.

If you like Cordellโ€ฆ

Kendallโ€” a fellow English choice
Darrellโ€” a similarly popular pick
Terrellโ€” echoes that soft -ll sound
Tyrellโ€” another English name
Axellโ€” a fellow English choice

Explore names like Cordell

All themes →All meanings →All origins →

Frequently Asked

What does the name Cordell mean?

Cordell is usually explained as meaning 'maker of cord' and is most often linked with English tradition.

How do you pronounce Cordell?

It's commonly said kawr-DEHL /kษ”ษน.หˆdษ›l/.

Is Cordell a boy or girl name?

In this batch and in recent U.S. usage data, Cordell is used as a boy name.

How popular is Cordell?

In 2024, Cordell ranked #2132 in the U.S. for boys, with 69 births recorded.

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