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Cardinal

KAHR-dn-uhl /ˈkɑr.dn.əl/

At a glance

In short
Cardinal: A strong and distinguished name of Latin origin, associated with leadership, strength, and intelligence. Pronounced KAHR-dn-uhl in English.
U.S. rank 2025
Not in the 2025 data · last seen 2021 (#10,799)
Babies in 2021
6 (<0.01% of boys)
First recorded
2021 (the only year on record)

Meaning of Cardinal

Originating from the Latin word "cardinalis," meaning "important" or "principal," the name Cardinal carries a strong and distinguished presence. Primarily considered a male name, Cardinal is associated with qualities such as leadership, strength, and intelligence. The English pronunciation of KAHR-dn-uhl (/ˈkɑr.dn.əl/) perfectly captures its essence. The Italian pronunciation of kar-dee-NAHL (/kar.di.nal/) adds an air of elegance and sophistication to the name, while the French pronunciation of kar-dee-NAL (/kaʁ.di.nal/) adds a touch of continental charm. With variations like Cardinale, this name offers versatility and uniqueness for parents seeking a distinctive yet meaningful choice for their baby boy. With six occurrences in 2021 in the United States of America, Cardinal holds an intriguing rarity that will make any child stand out among their peers.

How to pronounce Cardinal

English

Italian

French

Popularity of Cardinal in the U.S.

Cardinal appears in the records for the U.S. only in 2021, ranked #10,799 with 6 babies.

Bar chart: 6 boys named Cardinal in the U.S. in 2021, ranked #10,799 among boy names.
  • Boys named Cardinal (left scale)
  • Rank among U.S. boy names (right scale)
In 2021. Source: SSA. Download: PNG · SVG
Year-by-year table, 2021 1 row
Cardinal: babies and rank among boy names in the U.S. by year
YearBabiesRankvs previous year
2021610,799new

Notable people named Cardinal

  • Cardinal Mazarin — Jules Mazarin was an Italian cardinal and diplomat who served as chief minister to French kings Louis XIII and Louis XIV.
  • Armand Jean du Plessis, known as Cardinal Richelieu, was a powerful French statesman and Catholic leader nicknamed the Red Eminence.