Cordelias

Cordelias is the plural form of the female given name Cordelia. The name is most commonly used to refer to multiple people or fictional characters named Cordelia, rather than as a surname.

Etymology and usage: Cordelia is of uncertain origin but is generally associated with Latin roots related to the heart, or with an earlier name such as Cordula. The form Cordelia has appeared in English since the early modern period and has remained relatively uncommon but enduring in English-speaking countries. It functions primarily as a given name and is more frequently encountered in the United Kingdom and Commonwealth countries than in some other regions.

In culture and literature: The name Cordelia is best known from Shakespeare’s King Lear, where Cordelia is Lear’s devoted daughter. The name also appears in various works of fiction and media. Notable Cordelias include Cordelia Fine, born in 1969, an Australian psychologist and author known for work on gender bias in science; and Cordelia Chase, a fictional character from the television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer and its spinoff Angel.

See also: Cordelia and Cordelia (disambiguation) for related uses of the name outside of the plural form.