Name profile

GirlPronounced American English /kɔɹ.ˈdil.i.ə/; British English /kɔː.ˈdiː.li.ə/English language family

Cordelia

From Cordeilla, a name appearing in the 12th-century chronicles of Geoffrey of Monmouth, borne by the youngest of the three daughters of King Leir and the only one to remain loyal to her father.

Quick answer

Cordelia is a girl name.

Pronunciation: American English /kɔɹ.ˈdil.i.ə/; British English /kɔː.ˈdiː.li.ə/.

GenderGirl
PronunciationAmerican English /kɔɹ.ˈdil.i.ə/; British English /kɔː.ˈdiː.li.ə/
Language familyEnglish

Meaning and history

From Cordeilla, a name appearing in the 12th-century chronicles of Geoffrey of Monmouth, borne by the youngest of the three daughters of King Leir and the only one to remain loyal to her father. Geoffrey possibly based her name on that of Creiddylad, a character from Welsh legend. The spelling was later altered to Cordelia when Geoffrey's story was adapted by others, including Edmund Spenser in his poem The Faerie Queene (1590) and Shakespeare in his tragedy King Lear (1606).

Notes and context

Usage: literature, english