Ofelia Girl
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: oh-FAY-lee-ah /oʊˈfeɪliə/
Origin: Spanish; Greek
Meaning: Spanish: help; Greek: serpent
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Ofelia has its roots in the Latin name Ophelia, which is derived from the Greek word ὀφέλεια (opheleia), meaning "help" or "benefit." The name Ophelia appears in classical literature, most notably in Shakespeare's play "Hamlet," written in the early 17th century, where Ophelia is a tragic character whose story resonates with themes of love, loss, and madness. The transition from Ophelia to Ofelia can be traced through the influence of various languages and cultures, particularly in Spanish and Italian contexts, where the name has been adopted and adapted over the centuries.
Historically, the name Ophelia has been associated with several notable figures and works. In the biblical context, Ophelia is linked to the Hebrew name Ophiel, which appears in the Old Testament as a name of significance.
The name's presence in literature and its association with tragic narratives have contributed to its enduring appeal. The character of Ophelia in "Hamlet" has particularly cemented the name's place in cultural history, as it has been interpreted in various artistic forms, including paintings, operas, and films, since the play's debut in the early 1600s.
Culturally, Ofelia carries connotations of beauty and tragedy, often symbolizing innocence and vulnerability. The name has been embraced in various artistic expressions, reflecting its deep emotional resonance.
In literature and art, Ofelia is often depicted as a figure caught between conflicting worlds, embodying both strength and fragility. This duality has allowed the name to maintain a significant presence in cultural narratives, making it a poignant choice in various artistic and literary contexts.
Famous people named Ofelia
In this section, you will find notable people named Ofelia. 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 Ofelia who have made a significant impact on popular culture.
We also feature individuals named Ofelia 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.
Ofelia Dumas Lachtman is an author best known for The Last Resort, The House of the Spirits, and The Woman Who Gave Birth to Rabbits.
Ofelia Medina is an actress best known for The Other Conquest, The Crime of Father Amaro, and The Last of the Conquerors.
Fictional characters named Ofelia
The following list of fictional characters named Ofelia 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.
Ofelia is a fictional character from the film Pan's Labyrinth. She is a young girl who discovers a mysterious labyrinth and embarks on a quest to prove herself as the reincarnation of a lost princess.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Ofelia, 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 Ofelia. 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 Ofelia was first seen in the United States in 1900.
Ofelia has ranked as high as #717 nationally, which occurred in 1929, and has been most popular in California, Texas, Arizona, Illinois, and Florida.
In the past 5 years the name Ofelia has been trending up compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Ofelia 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 Ofelia was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.
Top States for Ofelia (2024)
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 |
|---|---|---|
| CA | 27 | |
| TX | 17 | |
| IL | 6 |
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 Ofelia.
| Year | Births |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 105 |
| 2023 | 68 |
| 2022 | 83 |
| 2021 | 93 |
| 2020 | 85 |
| 2019 | 78 |
| 2018 | 74 |
| 2017 | 79 |
| 2016 | 69 |
| 2015 | 58 |
| 2014 | 45 |
| 2013 | 46 |
| 2012 | 35 |
| 2011 | 49 |
| 2010 | 46 |
| 2009 | 50 |
| 2008 | 60 |
| 2007 | 69 |
| 2006 | 57 |
| 2005 | 56 |
| 2004 | 54 |
| 2003 | 48 |
| 2002 | 64 |
| 2001 | 52 |
| 2000 | 54 |
| 1999 | 49 |
| 1998 | 50 |
| 1997 | 47 |
| 1996 | 59 |
| 1995 | 57 |
| 1994 | 56 |
| 1993 | 66 |
| 1992 | 72 |
| 1991 | 73 |
| 1990 | 47 |
| 1989 | 63 |
| 1988 | 52 |
| 1987 | 58 |
| 1986 | 69 |
| 1985 | 67 |
| 1984 | 52 |
| 1983 | 63 |
| 1982 | 66 |
| 1981 | 88 |
| 1980 | 83 |
| 1979 | 64 |
| 1978 | 72 |
| 1977 | 63 |
| 1976 | 77 |
| 1975 | 80 |
| 1974 | 73 |
| 1973 | 61 |
| 1972 | 74 |
| 1971 | 61 |
| 1970 | 59 |
| 1969 | 69 |
| 1968 | 63 |
| 1967 | 58 |
| 1966 | 75 |
| 1965 | 79 |
| 1964 | 80 |
| 1963 | 71 |
| 1962 | 83 |
| 1961 | 72 |
| 1960 | 90 |
| 1959 | 88 |
| 1958 | 107 |
| 1957 | 104 |
| 1956 | 92 |
| 1955 | 113 |
| 1954 | 98 |
| 1953 | 138 |
| 1952 | 135 |
| 1951 | 120 |
| 1950 | 114 |
| 1949 | 131 |
| 1948 | 125 |
| 1947 | 122 |
| 1946 | 135 |
| 1945 | 106 |
| 1944 | 114 |
| 1943 | 79 |
| 1942 | 104 |
| 1941 | 88 |
| 1940 | 100 |
| 1939 | 84 |
| 1938 | 85 |
| 1937 | 98 |
| 1936 | 90 |
| 1935 | 100 |
| 1934 | 148 |
| 1933 | 111 |
| 1932 | 105 |
| 1931 | 130 |
| 1930 | 143 |
| 1929 | 154 |
| 1928 | 135 |
| 1927 | 111 |
| 1926 | 130 |
| 1925 | 151 |
| 1924 | 89 |
| 1923 | 89 |
| 1922 | 82 |
| 1921 | 62 |
| 1920 | 54 |
| 1919 | 38 |
| 1918 | 41 |
| 1917 | 30 |
| 1916 | 28 |
| 1915 | 21 |
| 1914 | 27 |
| 1913 | 10 |
| 1912 | 21 |
| 1911 | 14 |
| 1910 | 13 |
| 1909 | 5 |
| 1908 | 8 |
| 1907 | 13 |
| 1906 | 10 |
| 1905 | 6 |
| 1904 | 10 |
| 1900 | 8 |