Ophelia
Ophelia: name meaning, origin and popularity
Pronunciation (IPA): /ɒˈfiː.lɪə/ · /əʊˈfiː.lɪə/
Meaning and origin of Ophelia
- A female given name from Ancient Greek.
Etymology
Borrowed from Italian Ofelia, coined by the poet Jacopo Sannazaro in his poem Arcadia (1504), probably from the Ancient Greek ὠφέλειᾰ (ōphéleiă, “help, aid, succour”). The name was used by William Shakespeare for the daugher of Polonius and ill-fated love interest of Hamlet. The moon (of Uranus) is named after this character. Doublet of anopheles
How popular is Ophelia?
Since 1880, 25,770 girls and 15 boys in the U.S. have been named Ophelia (100% girls). Its highest rank for girls was #232 in 1882. Its highest rank for boys was #4235 in 1915. In 2025 it ranked #264 for girls, with 1,183 babies given the name.
More Greek girl names
Sibling name ideas for Ophelia
Sister and brother names that share Ophelia's Greek roots and are still in the U.S. top 1,000.
Ophelia FAQ
What does the name Ophelia mean?
A female given name from Ancient Greek. Borrowed from Italian Ofelia, coined by the poet Jacopo Sannazaro in his poem Arcadia (1504), probably from the Ancient Greek ὠφέλειᾰ (ōphéleiă, “help, aid, succour”). The name was used by William Shakespeare for the daugher of Polonius and ill-fated love interest of Hamlet. The moon (of Uranus) is named after this character. Doublet of anopheles
What is the origin of the name Ophelia?
Ophelia is listed as a name of Greek origin.
How popular is the name Ophelia?
Since 1880, 25,770 girls and 15 boys in the U.S. have been named Ophelia (100% girls). Its highest rank for girls was #232 in 1882. Its highest rank for boys was #4235 in 1915. In 2025 it ranked #264 for girls, with 1,183 babies given the name.
Is Ophelia a boy or girl name?
Ophelia is mostly a girl name in the U.S.: 25,770 girls and 15 boys since 1880.
Popularity data: U.S. Social Security Administration baby name data, 1880–2025 (names given to 5+ babies per year). Origin and etymology text: Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.