Morwen, Q wanted to give a precise source for your assertion of 24 May 11 - 05:10 AM. My own information is supported by Wiktionary:

Cordelia
...
Shakespeare's spelling of a historical British name appearing as Cordeilla, etc., possibly derived from the Latin saint's name Cordula.

But the exact etymology is totally irrelevant for my conjecture that the name might indicate a family of (hereditrary or acquired) European highbrow culture, and that this may be an additional mockery by the imaginary Afro-Jamaican narrator. The name could be a fictional "speaking name", the "Brown" being ironic. Q, what do you think?

More important, Q: Do you know the lyrics as printed and sung in the early versions? What further sense do you make of them?

The Burgess/Belafonte version seems fairly clear, but, as we saw, does not seem too faithful to the original. Also, I wonder if the verse

Now, Miss Brown, may I confess,
I've yearned this long for your caress.
Since your head so red,
I think I'll marry Mabel instead

has the meaning: From your excessive blushing I conclude that you're pregnant from him.