Cornelia is a feminine given name. It is a feminine form of the name Cornelius or Cornelis. Nel or Nelly can be used as a shortened version of Cornelia (or Helen or Eleanor). Conny, Connie, Nele or Neele are popular German short forms used in their own right. Lia is a short version of the Dutch name.
In Ancient Rome, Cornelia was the name of the women born in all the branches of the Cornelii family. For a list of the notable Roman women, see: Cornelia (gens).
People possessing the name include:
Cornelia Africana, mother of the Gracchi
Cornelia, first wife of Julius Caesar
Cornelia, a Christian saint martyred with Anesius
Cornelia Bürki, Swiss long-distance runner
Cornelia Druţu, Romanian mathematician
Cornelia Dumler, German volleyball player
Cornelia Dahlgren, Swedish singer and songwriter
Cornelia Frances, English-Australian actress
Cornelia Funke, German children's writer
Cornelia Parker, British artist
Cornelia Polit, East German backstroke swimmer
Cornelia Sharpe, American actress and former model
Cornelia Otis Skinner, American actress, humorist, and playwright
Cornelia van Nijenroode
Cornelia Tăutu, Romanian composer
Cornelia Ten Boom, Author and Holocaust Survivor
Cornelia Toppen
