Is Ophelia a boy, girl, or unisex name?

Ophelia is commonly used as a Girl name.

How popular is Ophelia?

It’s currently ranked #245 in the U.S. Recent trend: Rising.

How do you pronounce Ophelia?

oh-FEEL-yah · IPA: /oʊˈfiːliə/

Ophelia Girl

Popularity: #245 · Trend: ↗ Rising

Origin(s)

Greek; Latin

Meaning

Greek: help; Latin: serpent

Historical & Cultural Background

Ophelia is derived from the Greek name 'Ophelos', meaning 'help'. It gained prominence through William Shakespeare's play 'Hamlet', where Ophelia is a tragic character. The name has been used in various literary works and has a romantic connotation. Its use has fluctuated over the centuries, often associated with themes of beauty and tragedy.

Trend Summary

Ophelia has seen a resurgence in popularity in the United States, particularly in the 21st century.

Variants

Ofelia
Ophelie

International Variants

Ofelia (Spanish)
Ophelie (French)
Ofélia (Portuguese)

Famous people named Ophelia

Ophelia Benson is a prominent author and activist known for her work in atheism and feminism.

Ophelia Lovibond is a British actress recognized for her roles in film and television.

Ophelia Field is a British author known for her historical biographies.

Ophelia Dagger is a fictional character in the webcomic 'The Dreamer'.

Fictional characters named Ophelia

Ophelia is a character in Shakespeare's play 'Hamlet', known for her tragic fate.

Ophelia is a character in the video game 'Bioshock Infinite', serving as a significant plot element.

Sibling Suggestions

Olivia Octavia Opal Oriana Odelia

U.S. Historical Usage

The name Ophelia was first seen in the United States in 1880. Ophelia has ranked as high as #487 nationally which occurred in 2024 and has been most popular in Texas, California, Florida, Ohio, and Indiana. In the past 5 years the name Ophelia has been trending up compared to the previous 5 years.

Popularity Over Time (National)

Top States for Ophelia (2024)

Year:

State	Births	Share
TX	93	8%
CA	89	8%
FL	58	5%
OH	55	5%
IN	52	5%
PA	47	4%
NC	42	4%
IL	41	4%
NY	41	4%
MO	39	3%
WA	36	3%
CO	33	3%
WI	29	3%
AZ	29	3%
TN	29	3%

Popularity Over Time (National) — Table

Year	Births
1880	44
1881	27
1882	56
1883	55
1884	61
1885	51
1886	60
1887	70
1888	81
1889	75
1890	65
1891	83
1892	101
1893	89
1894	77
1895	91
1896	79
1897	103
1898	99
1899	112
1900	150
1901	99
1902	95
1903	122
1904	109
1905	125
1906	120
1907	132
1908	124
1909	160
1910	169
1911	129
1912	208
1913	187
1914	224
1915	260
1916	266
1917	285
1918	313
1919	331
1920	353
1921	347
1922	364
1923	323
1924	362
1925	364
1926	314
1927	311
1928	283
1929	255
1930	251
1931	201
1932	237
1933	211
1934	196
1935	186
1936	171
1937	184
1938	167
1939	144
1940	149
1941	131
1942	147
1943	165
1944	140
1945	119
1946	115
1947	146
1948	141
1949	139
1950	172
1951	164
1952	133
1953	159
1954	158
1955	111
1956	122
1957	132
1958	133
1959	105
1960	103
1961	87
1962	87
1963	75
1964	72
1965	67
1966	66
1967	55
1968	53
1969	55
1970	49
1971	39
1972	56
1973	44
1974	31
1975	38
1976	36
1977	32
1978	35
1979	36
1980	27
1981	34
1982	35
1983	24
1984	30
1985	35
1986	45
1987	25
1988	21
1989	19
1990	27
1991	24
1992	17
1993	26
1994	27
1995	22
1996	29
1997	25
1998	28
1999	27
2000	21
2001	18
2002	32
2003	37
2004	33
2005	43
2006	47
2007	66
2008	101
2009	76
2010	96
2011	109
2012	139
2013	185
2014	226
2015	276
2016	533
2017	765
2018	839
2019	813
2020	794
2021	1,013
2022	1,167
2023	1,176
2024	1,215