"help, aid"
Origin: Greek opheleia
Language: English
Ophelia
Pronunciation: [ uhf-EELY-uh ]
Does Ophelia flow with your last name?
Shakespeare's most painted muse — now rising again
Greek
English
Italian
Scandinavian
Literary
Elegant
Vintage
Whimsical
Sophisticated
Reviewed by the NamingEverything Editorial Team · Updated
Share
Similar Names
Names Like Ophelia
Same sound, same style — different options
Nicknames
Nicknames for Ophelia
3 shorthand options for every setting
Fantasy Names
Ophelia as a Fantasy Character
Human lore, pronunciation, D&D class tips
Meaning & Origin
"advantage, profit"
Origin: Ancient Greek
Language: Greek
Playground Safety
Kid-Friendly
Similar to Ophelia
See all →What the Ophelia report tells you
$9Personalized to your state, siblings, and priorities. Free playground safety preview included.
Is Ophelia the #1 name in your state, or barely on the radar?
Enter your other kids' names. We score how well they sound together.
Downloadable PDF + nursery art
Everything in one printable report. Frame the name art.
Start with a free preview
Playground safety check is free. Full report is $9.
What do you want to do with this name?
Keep Ophelia
Add it to your shortlist. Not losing this one.
Compare names
Put Ophelia head-to-head with your other picks.
Start comparing →
Nickname ideas
See what Ophelia actually gets called.
Browse nicknames →
What kind of baby name person are you?
3 minutes to find names that fit your style.
Take the Quiz
Things to Know About This Name
- Strongly associated with the tragic drowning of Ophelia in Hamlet — some parents find this too morbid
The Story of Ophelia
Ophelia comes from the Greek 'opheleia,' meaning help or aid. The name first appeared in Jacopo Sannazaro's Renaissance pastoral poem Arcadia (1504) before Shakespeare immortalized it in Hamlet (c. 1600). Shakespeare's Ophelia — a young noblewoman who goes mad with grief and drowns — made the name both beautiful and tragic, and it became a favorite of the Romantic era.
Ophelia has been steadily climbing in the US since around 2015, reaching the top 200 by the early 2020s. Parents are reclaiming it from its tragic associations, drawn to its Shakespearean prestige and the current vogue for names ending in -ia. The Lumineers' hit song 'Ophelia' (2016) gave it a fresh, romantic feeling.
Ophelia is one of Shakespeare's most iconic characters and one of the most painted figures in Western art — John Everett Millais's 1851 pre-Raphaelite painting of her floating among flowers is among the most recognizable images in art history. The name carries literary weight that few others match.
Historical Record
Ophelia first appeared in US Social Security records in 1950.
Over 12,872 babies have been named Ophelia in the United States since SSA records began.
Today, Ophelia is rising quickly in popularity , currently ranked #261 for girl names in the US .
Fun Facts
- Millais's 1851 painting of Ophelia is one of the most viewed works in the Tate Britain
- The Lumineers' song 'Ophelia' spent 40 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 in 2016
- Shakespeare may have created Ophelia as a subtle critique of how women were treated in Elizabethan society — silenced, then mourned
Ophelia in Other Languages
Greek
Ωφελία
French
Ophélie
German
Ophelia
Italian
Ofelia
Spanish
Ofelia
Popularity Over Time
#261
Current Rank
Rising
Trend
Rising Fast
Based on SSA data 1880–present
Year-by-year popularity data will be available soon.
Famous People Named Ophelia
O
O
Ophelia Ford
Politician
1954
American politician who served in the Tennessee State Senate
O
Ophelia Fictional
Other
Tragic noblewoman in Shakespeare's Hamlet who dies by drowning after going mad with grief
Names You Might Also Love
See all →
Kaia
Girl
"pure"
#180
Valerie
Girl
"strong, healthy, from the Latin valere"
#147
Lucia
Girl
"born at dawn or daylight"
#98
Nina
Girl
"grace (diminutive of Anna)"
#321
Melany
Girl
"black, dark-colored"
#438
Compare Ophelia with:
Quick Facts
- Gender
- Girl
- Syllables
- 4
- Popularity Rank
- #261
- Total SSA Count
- 1,215
- Cultural Origins
- Greek English Italian Scandinavian
- Pronunciation
- Easy
- Formality
- Formal
- Cross-Cultural Ease
- Moderate
Common Nicknames
Ophie
Lia
Effie
Middle Name Ideas
Suggested pairings based on syllable flow and style
-
Timeless choice, smooth 3-1 syllable flow
-
Timeless choice, smooth 3-1 syllable flow
-
Distinctive pick, smooth 3-1 syllable flow
-
Timeless choice, English heritage match, balanced 3-2 syllable flow
-
Classic pairing, smooth 3-1 syllable flow
-
Timeless choice, smooth 3-1 syllable flow
-
Timeless choice, English heritage match, balanced 3-2 syllable flow
-
Timeless choice, smooth 3-1 syllable flow
-
Timeless choice, smooth 3-1 syllable flow
-
Timeless choice, smooth 3-1 syllable flow
Middle Names
Middle Names for Ophelia
7 name pairings with syllable flow tips
Sibling Names
Sibling Match
Premium
Check how Ophelia fits with existing sibling names — style, sound, and origin.
Enter sibling names above to see compatibility.
Also a Boy Name
Ophelia is also used as a boy name, ranked #33874.
View Ophelia as a boy name →Similar Names
See all names like Ophelia →For Parents
amz
Start a baby registry
Free welcome box on Amazon
The Baby Name Wizard
Names that age well — book
Nursery name sign
Personalized wooden letters
We may earn a commission from these links.
Compare Ophelia with...
Same Origin Names (Greek)
See all Greek names →Names with Similar Meaning
Names that share meaning themes with Ophelia
Can't decide?
Start a tournament bracket with Ophelia and other names you're considering.
Start a TournamentLike this name?
Check how Ophelia sounds with your surname and test for potential nicknames.
Analyze This NameExplore More Generators
-
🧝
Fantasy Name Generator
Create names for D&D and RPG characters
-
🐾
Pet Name Generator
Find the perfect name for your furry friend
-
🎭
Character Name Generator
Names for fictional characters across genres
Names You Might Also Like
View all →
Kaia
Girl
Old Norse origin
"pure"
#180 in US
Valerie
Girl
Latin origin
"strong, healthy, from the Latin valere"
#147 in US
Lucia
Girl
Latin origin
"born at dawn or daylight"
#98 in US
Nina
Girl
Hebrew/Slavic origin
"grace (diminutive of Anna)"
#321 in US
Melany
Girl
Greek (melas) origin
"black, dark-colored"
#438 in US
Matilda
Girl
Germanic origin
"mighty in battle"
#410 in US
River
Girl
English/Anglo-French origin
"flowing body of water"
#214 in US
Georgia
Girl
Greek origin
"one who works the land"
#110 in US
Save Your Name Card
Download a shareable image with Ophelia's meaning, origin, and popularity. Ready for Instagram, Pinterest, or texting to your partner.
Frequently Asked Questions About Ophelia
What does the name Ophelia mean?
"help, aid" (from Greek opheleia). "advantage, profit" (from Ancient Greek). Ophelia comes from the Greek 'opheleia,' meaning help or aid. The name first appeared in Jacopo Sannazaro's Renaissance pastoral poem Arcadia (1504) before Shakespeare immortalized it in Hamlet (c. 1600). Shakespeare's Ophelia — a young noblewoman who goes mad with grief and drowns — made the name both beautiful and tragic, and it became a favorite of the Romantic era.
What is the origin of the name Ophelia?
Ophelia has Greek opheleia, Ancient Greek, Greek, English, Italian, and Scandinavian origins. In Greek opheleia, it means "help, aid". In Ancient Greek, it means "advantage, profit".
Is Ophelia a boy or girl name?
Ophelia is used as both a girl and boy name. As a girl name, it is ranked #261. As a boy name, it is ranked #33874. Ophelia is more commonly used as a girl name.
How do you pronounce Ophelia?
Ophelia is pronounced uhf-EELY-uh.
How popular is the name Ophelia?
Ophelia is currently ranked #261 in popularity for girl names in the United States.
What are common nicknames for Ophelia?
Common nicknames for Ophelia include Ophie, Lia, and Effie.
What are good middle names for Ophelia?
Popular middle name pairings include Ophelia Rose, Ophelia Jane, Ophelia Claire, Ophelia Mae, Ophelia Grace, Ophelia Violet, and Ophelia Pearl.
What are good sibling names for Ophelia?
Names that pair well with Ophelia as siblings include Hamlet, Sebastian, Cordelia, Portia, Lysander, Beatrice, and Benedict.
How many syllables does Ophelia have?
Ophelia has 4 syllables, making it distinctive and rhythmic.
Is Ophelia a common or rare name?
Ophelia is a popular name, ranked #261 for girls. It is well-known without being overused.
About the Name Ophelia
Ophelia is a girl name with Greek, English, Italian, and Scandinavian origins . The name means "help, aid" in Greek opheleia .
Is Ophelia a boy or girl name? Ophelia is used as both a girl and boy name. As a girl name, it ranks #261 in popularity. As a boy name, it ranks #33,874. Ophelia is more commonly used as a girl name.
Ophelia is currently ranked #261 in popularity for girl names in the United States.
The name Ophelia has 4 syllables and is pronounced uhf-EELY-uh, making it distinctive and memorable.
Common nicknames for Ophelia include Ophie, Lia, and Effie. These shorter forms provide casual alternatives while keeping the elegance of the full name.
Keep Exploring
Greek opheleia Names
Browse all names with this origin
O
Names Starting with O
More girl names like Ophelia
Rising Names
Names gaining popularity right now
Name Personality Quiz
Find names that match your style
Name Swiper
Swipe through names, build a shortlist fast
Browse All Girl Names
Full list with filters and sorting
Recommended for Parents
amz
Start a registry
Free welcome box on Amazon
Baby Name Wizard
Names that actually age well
Nursery name sign
Personalized wooden letters
We may earn a commission from these links.
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