Ophelia Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
Ophelia is a name of Greek origin meaning 'help' or 'benefit.' It has evolved through ancient Greek and Latin into modern English. The name is most famously associated with a tragic character in Shakespeare's 'Hamlet,' contributing to its romantic and artistic image. It has no direct biblical relevance and gained popularity in the 19th century. Variants include Ophélie and Ofelia, and it is currently perceived as elegant and literary.
The name Ophelia is most popular in Mississippi, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Girl name among the G.I. Generation generation in the South region. Recent 3-year trends show this Girl name is gaining popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. Recent 3-year trends show this Boy name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. From 2020-2022, Ophelia has been too falling for female in MidWest, too falling for female in Northeast, too falling for female in South, too falling for female in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been stalled for female in MidWest, stalled for female in Northeast, stalled for female in South, stalled for female in West. Across generations, 'Ophelia' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 6100th out of 7545 names. Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 353rd out of 9107 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 516th out of 9204 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 900th out of 12526 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 1955th out of 19264 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 3578th out of 27321 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 2865th out of 35406 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 427th out of 30306 names. Discover how the name 'Ophelia' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Ophelia"
Pronunciation
/əˈfiːliə/
Origin
Greek
Etymology
The name Ophelia is derived from the Greek word 'opheleia,' which means 'help' or 'benefit.' It is often associated with the character Ophelia from William Shakespeare's play 'Hamlet.'
Meaning
help, benefit
Language Evolution
Ophelia (Ancient Greek), Ophelia (Latin), Ophelia (English)
Historical Usage
The name gained popularity in the 19th century, particularly due to its association with literature, including Shakespeare's works.
Variants & Derivatives
Ophélie (French), Ofelia (Spanish), Ophelya (variant spelling)
Modern Popularity & Image
Today, Ophelia is often viewed as a romantic and tragic name, evoking literary and artistic connections. It is appreciated for its elegance and historical significance.
Famous People
Ophelia Benson (philosopher and writer), Ophelia Lovibond (actress), Ophelia Huxley (British author)
Explore More Ophelia Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Ophelia"
Note: Years with identical rankings may represent different numbers of births. Data is sourced from Social Security card applications for births in the United States.
Yearly Ranking History of "Ophelia"
"Ophelia" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Boy | 6100th of 7545 | 15 |
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Girl | 353rd of 9107 | 6,196 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Girl | 516th of 9204 | 3,337 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Girl | 900th of 12526 | 2,354 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Girl | 1955th of 19264 | 719 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Girl | 3578th of 27321 | 440 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Girl | 2865th of 35406 | 898 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Girl | 427th of 30306 | 9,002 |
Regional Popularity of "Ophelia" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - | - | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- | - | - | - |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
Regional Popularity of "Ophelia" by Generation for Female Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
60.03% 850th/1416 |
65.55% 904th/1379 |
9.76% 231st/2366 |
42.29% 483rd/1142 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
63.45% 981st/1546 |
72.11% 1122nd/1556 |
14.70% 346th/2353 |
33.87% 524th/1547 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
59.41% 1323rd/2227 |
61.03% 1483rd/2430 |
21.31% 608th/2853 |
30.27% 840th/2775 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
76.00% 2232nd/2937 |
61.07% 2127th/3483 |
52.79% 1857th/3518 |
42.43% 1716th/4044 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - |
91.20% 4737th/5194 |
48.49% 3063rd/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
66.11% 3029th/4582 |
46.30% 2391st/5164 |
66.44% 4859th/7313 |
32.94% 2458th/7463 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
8.33% 332nd/3984 |
9.61% 431st/4487 |
8.03% 548th/6822 |
6.20% 389th/6276 |
State-by-State Popularity of "Ophelia"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Ophelia" across states, calculated by dividing the number of births with this name in each state by the total births in that state. This methodology provides a standardized measure of popularity regardless of state population size.