Given name & surname
Cord
“a bold advisor”
In German use, Cord is a diminutive of Konrad. One Polish interpretation is “a bold advisor.”
Meaning & origin
What it means
In German use, Cord is a diminutive of Konrad. One Polish interpretation is “a bold advisor.”
Explained through its name family
Where it comes from
In German use, Cord is a diminutive of Konrad. An origin associated with Konrad is Polish.
Explained through its name family
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1920. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Cord through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 1,842
- 1,842 boys · 0 girls
- Most popular year
- 1990
- 100 babies
- 2025
- 21
- #4,738 for boys
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- −5%
- Steady
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 21 U.S. birth records for boys, ranking No. 4,738 among boys’ names. Average annual use for boys was 4.9% lower in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for boys was 100 in 1990. Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 1,579 as a first name in 2020; 997 as a surname in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Cord’s family of names
In German usage, Cord is a diminutive of Konrad. In English usage, Cord as a surname has a related form in COARD. In English usage, Cord as a surname has a related form in MCGIRT.
Inner ring: spellings · outer: nicknames and forms.
Nicknames & forms 3
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Spellings & scripts 1
The same name written differently, including transliterations into other scripts.
See also 1
Names our sources mention alongside this one. They are related in story or meaning, not forms of this name.
People named Cord
- Cord JeffersonAmerican journalist, screenwriter and directorborn 1982
- Cord MysegaesGerman equestrianborn 1968
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Cord, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Cory
“from the hollow; of the churning waters” · “of the heart”
94% boys · 6% girls
Cortez
“a courteous man”
>99% boys
Corey
“from the hollow; of the churning waters”
96% boys · 4% girls
Kody
“one who is helpful”
93% boys · 7% girls
Cordell
“one who makes cord”
>99% boys
Conor
“lover of hounds” · “a wolf-lover”
>99% boys
Koby
“woman from California”
95% boys · 5% girls
Cody
“one who is helpful; a wealthy woman” · “acting as a cushion”
98% boys · 2% girls