Cordierite, which was discovered in 1813, in specimens from Níjar, Almería, Spain, is named after the French geologist Louis Cordier (1777–1861).

The manufacturing process deliberately aligns the cordierite crystals to make use of the very low thermal expansion along one axis.

Another old name is dichroite, a Greek word meaning "two-colored rock", a reference to cordierite's strong pleochroism.

[10] Another name for blue iolite is steinheilite, after Fabian Steinheil, the Russian military governor of Finland who observed that it was a different mineral from quartz.

[12] Cordierite is used in manufacturing kiln furniture for its impressive thermal shock resistance, which allows it to withstand rapid temperature changes without cracking.

[13] It is also employed to produce insulation equipment and electric heating elements in fuses, thermostats, and lighting technology.