…[name_m]Cornelius[/name_m].
It’s not love at first sight, but it is a grower, and it’s stuck with me at the moment. Is it just me?
nn [name_m]Eli[/name_m]
I absolutely love [name_m]Cornelius[/name_m], it might be a little different, but I don’t think a kid will hate you for it (honestly, a kid could end up hating a name for any reason, no matter how hard you try and make it so they won’t - if they want to find something wrong with it they will). If you love it, don’t hesitate, just go for it.
I think he will love you! It’s uncommon, but a name everyone are familiar with. If however he isn’t a fan, you can always just use nickname [name_m]Julius[/name_m] or something like that. But definitely go with [name_m]Cornelius[/name_m] if you feel like it!
I don’t think [name_m]Cornelius[/name_m] will hate his parents any more than [name_m]Augustus[/name_m] and [name_m]Maximus[/name_m] will.
My Grandfather was [name_m]Cornelius[/name_m] and he went by [name_u]Neil[/name_u]. We’re planning on using it as a middle name if we have a boy. I think it’s a handsome, old fashioned name.
Seconding what @southern.maple said. I actually had two great-grandfathers called [name_m]Cornelius[/name_m] and have never met anyone with that name, but now it’s becoming increasingly more used where I live.
Sorry, he may not hate you but the intuitive nickname is [name_u]Corny[/name_u], so if it were me, I wouldn’t be pleased.
Your son might not care for the name [name_m]Cornelius[/name_m] but he would not HATE you for it.
Personally, I am not fond of the name.
Hate is a strong word, but I wouldn’t want it as a first name.
I love this 
thank you!
It’s a very cool name, but I’m not sure how wearable it really is, especially on a baby/child. I do actually know a [name_m]Cornelius[/name_m] (mid-50’s) and he’s slightly odd and eccentric just like his name, so it fits in that case. But on your average 5-year-old? Or 25-year-old? Not sure.
I’m having a similar dilemma with [name_m]Ignatius[/name_m] at the moment so I can relate! Like you, I’d use a more mainstream/approachable nickname, but I’m not sure how intuitive [name_m]Eli[/name_m] is from [name_m]Cornelius[/name_m]. I think [name_m]Connor[/name_m] is the traditional Irish nickname for [name_m]Cornelius[/name_m].
I know a little [name_m]Ignatius[/name_m]. People make VERY weird faced when they hear it. It definitely stands out and not in a good way. Luckily, he goes by [name_m]Iggy[/name_m] most of the time.
It’s a lot of name. [name_m]Cornelius[/name_m] will likely elicited some chuckles in school. You’re best bet is to establish a nn ASAP so no one calls him [name_u]Corny[/name_u]. [name_u]Cory[/name_u], [name_u]Neil[/name_u] or even [name_m]Leo[/name_m] would be good. But he may end up with the nn Corn/[name_u]Corny[/name_u] and love it.
The [name_m]Cornelius[/name_m] that I know is called [name_u]Connie[/name_u]. Yes, weird but he’s been [name_u]Connie[/name_u] for over 70 years. I’d use [name_m]Cornelius[/name_m] for a middle name.
He may not hate you, but I bet he’ll hate signing checks or showing his driver’s license and enduring the 500th person saying … “is THAT your real name?” Why would you choose a name and then hope to be able to keep it a secret? Geeze … life is hard enough!
My middle name is [name_f]Cornelia[/name_f] and I’ve always loved it. I think [name_m]Cornelius[/name_m] is a strong, classic, stately name. The Vanderbilts come to my mind. As for it not wearing well on a baby, I think it does - but regardless, he’ll only be a baby for a few years, a child for ten more. He’ll have 60+ years of being a man, so I say choose a name based on that and if he needs a more boyish nickname while he is young, decide on that later. I’d say go for it!
Edit to add: In my circles at least, no one would be surprised by Cornelius as a first name.
I find [name_f]Cornelia[/name_f] lovely on a girl, but I don’t feel the same about [name_m]Cornelius[/name_m] on a boy.
I think that name would be pretty tough to handle on the playground
Isn’t [name_m]Chevy[/name_m] [name_u]Chase[/name_u]'s real firs name [name_m]Cornelius[/name_m]? I remember him saying how much he despised his real name, hence the change to “[name_m]Chevy[/name_m]”. [name_f]Every[/name_f] time I hear that name I think of [name_m]Chevy[/name_m] [name_u]Chase[/name_u] or Planet of the Apes. I think that name would be hard to wear, to be honest.