"help, aid"
Ofelia
Pronunciation: [ ohf-AYL-ee-uh ]
Does Ofelia flow with your last name?
A haunting literary beauty with new fairy-tale magic
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Names Like Ofelia
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Nicknames
Nicknames for Ofelia
3 shorthand options for every setting
Meaning & Origin
"helper, one who assists"
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Browse nicknames →Things to Know About This Name
- Associated with the tragic drowning death of Ophelia in Shakespeare's Hamlet
The Story of Ofelia
Ofelia is the Spanish and Italian form of Ophelia, a name created by the Italian Renaissance poet Jacopo Sannazaro in his 1504 work Arcadia, derived from the Greek ophelos meaning help or aid. Shakespeare immortalized the name in Hamlet (c.1600), making Ophelia one of the most iconic tragic heroines in literature. The Ofelia spelling is used throughout the Spanish-speaking world.
Ofelia has remained a steady classic in Spanish-speaking countries. Globally, Ophelia/Ofelia has seen a renaissance as parents rediscover literary Victorian names. The film Pan's Labyrinth (2006) featuring a girl named Ofelia introduced the Spanish form to wider international audiences.
In Spanish and Latin American cultures, Ofelia is a timeless literary name. The character of Ofelia in Guillermo del Toro's Pan's Labyrinth (2006) — a girl who escapes wartime Spain through a magical fantasy world — gave the Spanish form iconic new resonance.
Historical Record
Ofelia first appeared in US Social Security records in 1950.
Over 5,347 babies have been named Ofelia in the United States since SSA records began.
Today, Ofelia is past its peak , currently ranked #1,900 for girl names in the US .
Fun Facts
- The name Ophelia was invented by the Italian poet Jacopo Sannazaro in 1504
- The Pre-Raphaelite painting Ophelia by John Everett Millais (1852) is one of the most famous paintings in the world
- In Guillermo del Toro's Pan's Labyrinth (2006), Ofelia is the young girl who enters a magical underworld
Ofelia in Other Languages
Popularity Over Time
Year-by-year popularity data will be available soon.
Famous People Named Ofelia
Ophelia Fictional
Other
Tragic heroine of Shakespeare's Hamlet who drowns after the death of her father Polonius; one of literature's most iconi...
Tragic heroine of Shakespeare's Hamlet who drowns after the death of her father Polonius; one of literature's most iconic characters
Ofelia (Pan's Labyrinth) Fictional
Other
Young protagonist of Guillermo del Toro's Pan's Labyrinth (2006), a girl who escapes Francoist Spain through a magical f...
Young protagonist of Guillermo del Toro's Pan's Labyrinth (2006), a girl who escapes Francoist Spain through a magical fantasy world
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Compare Ofelia with:
Quick Facts
- Gender
- Girl
- Syllables
- 4
- Popularity Rank
- #1,900
- Total SSA Count
- 105
- Cultural Origins
- Spanish Italian Scandinavian Portuguese
- Pronunciation
- Moderate
- Formality
- Formal
- Cross-Cultural Ease
- Moderate
Common Nicknames
Middle Name Ideas
Suggested pairings based on syllable flow and style
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Timeless choice, Scandinavian heritage match, balanced 4-2 syllable flow
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Classic pairing, Scandinavian heritage match, balanced 4-2 syllable flow
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Timeless choice, smooth 4-1 syllable flow
-
Distinctive pick, smooth 4-1 syllable flow
-
Timeless choice, smooth 4-1 syllable flow
-
Distinctive pick, smooth 4-1 syllable flow
-
Classic pairing, Spanish heritage match, balanced 4-2 syllable flow
-
Timeless choice, smooth 4-1 syllable flow
-
Timeless choice, smooth 4-1 syllable flow
-
Timeless choice, smooth 4-1 syllable flow
Middle Names
Middle Names for Ofelia
7 name pairings with syllable flow tips
Sibling Names
Sibling Match
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Also a Boy Name
Ofelia is also used as a boy name, ranked #29188.
View Ofelia as a boy name →Similar Names
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Same Origin Names (Spanish)
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Frequently Asked Questions About Ofelia
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About the Name Ofelia
Ofelia is a girl name with Spanish, Italian, Scandinavian, and Portuguese origins . The name means "help, aid" in Greek .
Is Ofelia a boy or girl name? Ofelia is used as both a girl and boy name. As a girl name, it ranks #1,900 in popularity. As a boy name, it ranks #29,188. Ofelia is more commonly used as a girl name.
Ofelia is currently ranked #1,900 in popularity for girl names in the United States.
The name Ofelia has 4 syllables and is pronounced ohf-AYL-ee-uh, making it distinctive and memorable.
Common nicknames for Ofelia include Ofe, Lia, and Feli. These shorter forms provide casual alternatives while keeping the elegance of the full name.
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Sources
- U.S. Social Security Administration — National Baby Names Data (popularity rankings and historical trends)
- Behind the Name (etymology and meaning research)
- NamingEverything editorial research and analysis