Ophelia Name Meaning
Learn more about the meaning, origin, and popularity of the name Ophelia.Fact checked by Elizabeth BrownfieldFact checked by Elizabeth BrownfieldAre you looking for a rare and lovely name, or perhaps a famous literary name? The name Ophelia is an awesome choice.The name was most likely derived from the ancient Greek ōphéleia (ὠφέλεια) meaning “aid” or “benefit,” but it is best known as the name of Shakespeare’s tragic heroine in the play Hamlet. Origin: Borrowed from an ancient Greek word, Ophelia was first seen (spelled as “Ofelia”) in the 1504 poem "Arcadia" by Jacopo Sannazaro. It appeared in Shakespeare’s play almost a century later, spelled in the way that is now most common.Gender: Ophelia is traditionally a feminine name. Ophelius may be used as a masculine alternative.Pronunciation: oh-FEEL-ee-ah or oh-FEEL-ya
Editor's NoteAlthough baby names are often separated by gender, Parents believes that sex need not play any role in your name selection process. It’s important to select the name that you feel best suits your new baby.
How Popular Is the Name Ophelia?The name Ophelia was not uncommon in the United States in the late 19th and early 20th century. (It may have received a boost in 1852, when a character named Ophelia appeared in Harriet Beecher Stowe’s best-selling novel Uncle Tom’s Cabin). In 1900, it was ranked as the No. 268 name for girls in America. However, its popularity decreased over the next few decades, dropping to No. 524 in 1938, and then dropping out of the top 1,000 after 1958.The name reappeared in the top 1,000 girl names in the US in 2015, and quickly started to rise in popularity. Ophelia rejoined the top 500 just two years later, and by 2023 it was ranked No. 267, its highest-ever recorded ranking.Similar NamesThe name Ophelia is sometimes spelled as Ofelia. Another name with a similar sound is Odelia, a Hebrew-derived name meaning “I will thank God.”More names starting with "O" include:OceanOctaviaOdalisOdessaOlaOlannaOliveOliviaOlympiaOonaOrchidOrliOther popular girl names found in Shakespeare's work include:Ariel (The Tempest)Beatrice (Much Ado About Nothing)Bianca (The Taming of the Shrew)Cassandra (Troilus and Cressida)Emilia (Othello)Hermione (The Winter’s Tale)Isabella (Measure for Measure)Jessica (The Merchant of Venice)Juliet (Romeo and Juliet)Mariana (All’s Well That Ends Well)Miranda (The Tempest)Portia (The Merchant of Venice)Suggested Sibling NamesHere’s a list of sibling names that would be a great fit for a baby Ophelia:AlexanderIsaacJulianMarianNaomiNicholasNinaPatrickRebeccaRoseVictoriaWarren
Related: Top 1,000 Baby Girl Names in the U.S.
Famous People Named OpheliaThe name Ophelia continues to be closely associated with the character in Hamlet. However, there have been a number of other notable Ophelias.Famous OpheliasOphelia Gordon Bell, English sculptorOphelia Benson, American author, editor, blogger, and feministOphelia Dahl, British social justice and health care advocate, daughter of author Roald DahlOphelia DeVore, American model and businesswoman who made history as an African American woman in the fashion industryOphelia Dimalanta, Filipino poet and teacherOphelia Ford, American politician who served in the Tennessee SenateOphélia Kolb, French actress known for her roles in the French TV series Call My Agent! and the 2018 film AmandaOphelia Hoff Saytumah, Liberian politician who served as mayor of MonroviaOphelia Lovibond, English actress known for her role in the film Guardians of the GalaxyOphelia S. Lewis, Liberian author and humanitarianOphelia Olivaccé-Marie, Dominican singer known as “Dominica’s Lady of Song”Famous OfeliasOfelia Fernández, Argentine politician and youngest elected member of the Buenos Aires City LegislatureOfelia Guilmáin, Mexican actress known for appearing in telenovelas and for her roles on stage and screenOfelia Medina, Mexican actress known for her roles in telenovelas and for playing Frida Kahlo in the 1983 film Frida, Naturaleza VivaFictional OpheliasOphelia, the sometime love interest of Prince Hamlet in Shakespeare’s play HamletOphelia Frump, the sister of Morticia Addams in The Addams FamilyOphelia Nigmos, a resident of Strangetown in The Sims 2Ophelia Ramírez, the friend of Juniper in the Cartoon Network series The Life and Times of Juniper LeeOphelia St. Clare, a character who overcomes her own racial prejudice in the novel Uncle Tom's CabinOphelia Sarkissian, the alter ego of the villainess Viper in Marvel ComicsFictional OfeliasOfelia, the 10-year-old protagonist in the 2006 film Pan’s Labyrinth, portrayed by Ivana BaqueroOfelia Salazar, a character portrayed by Mercedes Mason in the TV series Fear the Walking DeadOfelia Santoro, the mother of the main character in the novel Third and Indiana by Steve Lopez More Baby NamesStill searching for the perfect baby name? Check out these related baby name lists for even more options:Top 1,000 Baby Girl Names100 Italian Baby NamesHow To Choose a Name for Your Baby
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