Odessa

Pronunciation: [ ohd-EHS-uh ]

Girl Name #1,586 Most Popular Hidden Gem 3 Syllables

A name for epic journeys and timeless stories

American English Eastern European

Vintage Literary Elegant Whimsical Bold

Meaning & Origin

"city of Odysseus"

Origin: Greek

Language: English

"angry, wrathful"

Origin: Greek etymology

Language: Greek

The Story of Odessa

Odessa is the feminine form of Odysseus — the legendary Greek hero of Homer's Odyssey whose name means 'long journey' or 'to be wrathful against.' The city of Odessa in Ukraine was named by Catherine the Great in 1795 to honor the region's Greek colonial past, specifically the ancient Greek colony of Odessos. The city's fame as a cultural and commercial center in the 19th century helped establish Odessa as a given name across multiple cultures.

Odessa has experienced a quiet but steady revival as parents rediscover Victorian-era names with classical roots. It fits perfectly into the trend for names with rich history and literary associations — the Odyssey is one of the foundational texts of Western literature, and Odessa carries all that depth in three musical syllables.

The city of Odessa, Ukraine (now spelled Odesa) was one of the great cities of the Russian Empire and Soviet Union, famous for its opera house, staircases, and cultural vibrancy. The film The Battleship Potemkin immortalized its famous steps. The name therefore carries both Greek mythological heritage and Slavic cultural resonance.

Fun Facts

Homer's Odyssey, from which this name derives, is considered one of the oldest works of Western literature at nearly 3,000 years old
The Odessa Steps sequence in Eisenstein's Battleship Potemkin (1925) is one of cinema's most famous scenes

Odessa in Other Languages

Greek Odysseia

Russian Odessa

Spanish Odesa

Ukrainian Odesa

Famous People Named Odessa

Odessa (Ukraine)

Other

Major Ukrainian port city on the Black Sea, one of the great cultural capitals of Eastern Europe

Odysseus Fictional

Other

Hero of Homer's Odyssey, the legendary Greek king of Ithaca whose epic journey home from Troy took 10 years

Quick Facts

Gender: Girl
Syllables: 3
Popularity Rank: #1,586
Total SSA Count: 133
Cultural Origins: American English Eastern European
Pronunciation: Easy
Formality: Moderate
Cross-Cultural Ease: Moderate

Common Nicknames

Dessie Desi Odie

Pairs Well With

Odessa Rose Odessa Grace Odessa Mae Odessa Claire Odessa June Odessa Elise

Sibling Names

Penelope Calliope Cassius Leander Persephone Atticus

Also a Boy Name

Odessa is also used as a boy name, ranked #20010.

View Odessa as a boy name →

Similar Names

Malinda Clarissa Odelia Elodie Melina Francesca Yvette Vanessa

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Frequently Asked Questions About Odessa

What does the name Odessa mean?

"city of Odysseus" (from Greek). "angry, wrathful" (from Greek etymology). Odessa is the feminine form of Odysseus — the legendary Greek hero of Homer's Odyssey whose name means 'long journey' or 'to be wrathful against.' The city of Odessa in Ukraine was named by Catherine the Great in 1795 to honor the region's Greek colonial past, specifically the ancient Greek colony of Odessos. The city's fame as a cultural and commercial center in the 19th century helped establish Odessa as a given name across multiple cultures.

What is the origin of the name Odessa?

Odessa has Greek, Greek etymology, American, English, and Eastern European origins. In Greek, it means "city of Odysseus". In Greek etymology, it means "angry, wrathful".

Is Odessa a boy or girl name?

Odessa is used as both a girl and boy name. As a girl name, it is ranked #1586. As a boy name, it is ranked #20010. Odessa is more commonly used as a girl name.

How do you pronounce Odessa?

Odessa is pronounced ohd-EHS-uh.

How popular is the name Odessa?

Odessa is currently ranked #1586 in popularity for girl names in the United States.

What are common nicknames for Odessa?

Common nicknames for Odessa include Dessie, Desi, and Odie.

What are good middle names for Odessa?

Popular middle name pairings include Odessa Rose, Odessa Grace, Odessa Mae, Odessa Claire, Odessa June, and Odessa Elise.

What are good sibling names for Odessa?

Names that pair well with Odessa as siblings include Penelope, Calliope, Cassius, Leander, Persephone, and Atticus.

How many syllables does Odessa have?

Odessa has 3 syllables, making it distinctive and rhythmic.

Is Odessa a common or rare name?

Odessa is an uncommon name, ranked #1586 in the US. Its rarity gives it a distinctive, memorable quality.

About the Name Odessa

Odessa is a girl name with American, English, and Eastern European origins . The name means "city of Odysseus" in Greek .

Is Odessa a boy or girl name? Odessa is used as both a girl and boy name. As a girl name, it ranks #1,586 in popularity. As a boy name, it ranks #20,010. Odessa is more commonly used as a girl name.

Odessa is currently ranked #1,586 in popularity for girl names in the United States.

The name Odessa has 3 syllables and is pronounced ohd-EHS-uh, making it distinctive and memorable.

Common nicknames for Odessa include Dessie, Desi, and Odie. These shorter forms provide casual alternatives while keeping the elegance of the full name.