Corliss is an uncommon yet distinctive given name of American origin. It is derived from the Cornish surname "Carlick," which is believed to have been adapted into Corliss over time. This name first appeared in print in the 1890s, used by the American author Mary Roberts Rinehart in her novel "The Circular Staircase." Since then, it has been occasionally used as a female given name but remains quite rare.
The name Corliss saw its highest popularity between 1923 and 1924 with 18 births each year, but it has generally been used infrequently throughout the century, with fewer than 10 births annually for most years. There was a notable resurgence in 1994 with 22 births. Overall, there were 343 babies named Corliss between 1913 and 1996.