Male first name (German): Cornelius, Latin (Roman family); cornu = horn; spread by the cult of St, from an old Roman family name, perhaps underlying the word "cornu" (horn). Cornelius, pope 251-253 Male first name (Latin): Cornelius;; cornu = horn, from an old Roman family name, perhaps the word "cornu" (horn) is based on that; spread through the veneration of St.. Cornelius, Pope 251-253