Odetta Girl
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: oh-DET-uh //oʊˈdɛtə//
Origin: French; Hebrew
Meaning: French: wealthy; Hebrew: song
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Odetta is believed to have its roots in the Germanic name "Odette," which is a diminutive form of "Oda," meaning "wealth" or "fortune." The name Oda itself can be traced back to the Old High German word "ot," which carries the same connotation of prosperity. The transition of the name into English likely occurred through French influence, particularly during the medieval period when names were often adapted and transformed through cultural exchanges.
The name Odette became more widely recognized in the English-speaking world in the 19th century, particularly through its association with the ballet "Swan Lake," where Odette is the name of the swan princess, thus embedding the name in cultural consciousness. Historically, the name Odetta has been linked to various notable figures, including the American folk singer Odetta Holmes, who gained prominence in the mid-20th century and became an influential figure in the civil rights movement.
Her contributions to music and culture helped to elevate the name's significance during this period. The name also resonates with themes of strength and resilience, qualities often associated with its bearers, particularly in the context of artistic expression and social change.
In terms of cultural significance, Odetta embodies a blend of elegance and strength, often evoking images of grace and artistic talent. The name's association with wealth and fortune through its etymological roots adds a layer of depth to its interpretation.
While diminutive forms like "Odie" may exist, the name Odetta itself stands out as a unique and historically rich choice, reflecting both its Germanic origins and its journey through various cultural landscapes.
Famous people named Odetta
In this section, you will find notable people named Odetta. We include individuals across a wide range of fields, including actors known for their work in film, television, and stage productions. You'll also find musicians, directors, and other public figures named Odetta who have made a significant impact on popular culture.
We also feature individuals named Odetta who have made meaningful contributions to science, politics, athletics, literature, and other areas of public interest.
Please note that not every baby name in our database currently has a famous namesake listed. If you would like to suggest a name we may have missed or submit a correction, feel free to contact us. We review and finalize additions and corrections within 24 hours.
Odetta Holmes is a singer and civil rights activist best known for her contributions to the folk music revival and her performances at the 1963 March on Washington.
Fictional characters named Odetta
The following list of fictional characters named Odetta is a work in progress. If you would like to suggest an additional character, please send us the character's name along with a brief, one-sentence description of what they are best known for.
You may also submit corrections, which we will review and update as quickly as possible.
Odetta Holmes is a fictional character from the novel The Dark Tower: The Gunslinger by Stephen King. She is a key character who embodies the struggle between good and evil within the narrative, representing the duality of her identity as both Odetta and Susannah Dean.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Odetta, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.
Similar names
Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Odetta. These names can serve as alternatives to the sibling suggestions listed above and may help you find the perfect complementary name for your growing family.
U.S. Historical Usage
The name Odetta was first seen in the United States in 1900.
Odetta has ranked as high as #874 nationally, which occurred in 1922, and has been most popular in Hawaii, and New York.
In the past 5 years the name Odetta has been trending up compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Odetta is part of our comprehensive baby names database, which includes Social Security Administration (SSA) data dating back to 1880—the first official year of state and national tracking. The chart below shows when Odetta was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.
Top States for Odetta (1974)
We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. In some cases, you may see four or five states listed. However, we only display states where the name represents a significant percentage of births, so the number of states shown can range from one to several.
| State | Births | Share |
|---|---|---|
| NY | 5 |
Popularity Over Time (National) — Table
We track the national popularity of each baby name annually. The table below displays each year along with the number of births reported by the Social Security Administration. This data combines all state-level reporting from the SSA's baby names database to provide a comprehensive view of overall birth counts for Odetta.
| Year | Births |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 5 |
| 2022 | 5 |
| 1976 | 7 |
| 1974 | 10 |
| 1973 | 7 |
| 1972 | 7 |
| 1971 | 16 |
| 1970 | 11 |
| 1969 | 7 |
| 1968 | 8 |
| 1967 | 12 |
| 1966 | 9 |
| 1965 | 6 |
| 1964 | 14 |
| 1963 | 18 |
| 1962 | 9 |
| 1961 | 14 |
| 1960 | 16 |
| 1959 | 5 |
| 1957 | 6 |
| 1955 | 5 |
| 1954 | 8 |
| 1953 | 8 |
| 1952 | 5 |
| 1951 | 7 |
| 1950 | 12 |
| 1949 | 5 |
| 1946 | 6 |
| 1945 | 5 |
| 1943 | 9 |
| 1941 | 8 |
| 1939 | 5 |
| 1938 | 10 |
| 1937 | 6 |
| 1936 | 6 |
| 1935 | 10 |
| 1934 | 7 |
| 1933 | 19 |
| 1932 | 7 |
| 1931 | 9 |
| 1930 | 14 |
| 1929 | 9 |
| 1928 | 7 |
| 1927 | 8 |
| 1926 | 15 |
| 1925 | 16 |
| 1924 | 21 |
| 1923 | 15 |
| 1922 | 22 |
| 1921 | 14 |
| 1920 | 13 |
| 1919 | 14 |
| 1918 | 16 |
| 1917 | 19 |
| 1916 | 16 |
| 1915 | 11 |
| 1914 | 11 |
| 1913 | 10 |
| 1912 | 5 |
| 1911 | 8 |
| 1907 | 5 |
| 1904 | 5 |
| 1900 | 5 |