Ophelia
Borrowed from Italian Ofelia, coined by the poet Jacopo Sannazaro in his poem Arcadia (1504), probably from the Ancient Greek ὠφέλειᾰ (ōphéleiă, “help, aid, succour”).
Every Ophelia since 1880 — 25,785 of them. Popularity, births, and rankings for each year, from official Social Security records.
The story of Ophelia
Ophelia is moderately common for girls in the United States, ranked #264 in 2025 with 1,183 babies given the name. It is currently rising compared with a decade ago.
Since 1880, 25,785 American babies have been named Ophelia. Its peak came in 2024, when 1,223 newborns received the name — the signature sound of the 2020s.
The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Ophelia stood among all girls' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.
Ophelia year by year
Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.
| Year | Girls | Girls rank | Boys | Boys rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1,183 | #264 | — | — |
| 2024 | 1,223 | #259 | — | — |
| 2023 | 1,177 | #265 | — | — |
| 2022 | 1,169 | #271 | — | — |
| 2021 | 1,014 | #321 | — | — |
| 2020 | 794 | #391 | — | — |
| 2019 | 813 | #385 | — | — |
| 2018 | 839 | #373 | — | — |
| 2017 | 765 | #417 | — | — |
| 2016 | 533 | #582 | — | — |
| 2015 | 276 | #980 | — | — |
| 2014 | 226 | #1,122 | — | — |
| 2013 | 185 | #1,280 | — | — |
| 2012 | 139 | #1,573 | — | — |
| 2011 | 109 | #1,850 | — | — |
| 2010 | 96 | #2,072 | — | — |
| 2009 | 76 | #2,502 | — | — |
| 2008 | 101 | #2,048 | — | — |
| 2007 | 66 | #2,778 | — | — |
| 2006 | 47 | #3,456 | — | — |
| 2005 | 43 | #3,488 | — | — |
| 2004 | 33 | #4,254 | — | — |
| 2003 | 37 | #3,793 | — | — |
| 2002 | 32 | #4,049 | — | — |
| 2001 | 18 | #6,249 | — | — |
| 2000 | 21 | #5,448 | — | — |
| 1995 | 22 | #4,641 | — | — |
| 1990 | 27 | #3,879 | — | — |
| 1985 | 35 | #2,738 | — | — |
| 1980 | 27 | #3,189 | — | — |
| 1975 | 38 | #2,223 | — | — |
| 1970 | 50 | #1,796 | — | — |
| 1965 | 67 | #1,343 | — | — |
| 1960 | 103 | #1,060 | — | — |
| 1955 | 111 | #935 | — | — |
| 1950 | 172 | #651 | — | — |
| 1945 | 119 | #685 | — | — |
| 1940 | 149 | #570 | — | — |
| 1935 | 186 | #468 | — | — |
| 1930 | 251 | #416 | — | — |
| 1925 | 364 | #358 | — | — |
| 1920 | 353 | #348 | — | — |
| 1915 | 260 | #376 | 5 | #4,235 |
| 1910 | 169 | #297 | — | — |
| 1905 | 125 | #299 | — | — |
| 1900 | 150 | #268 | — | — |
| 1895 | 91 | #304 | — | — |
| 1890 | 65 | #313 | — | — |
| 1885 | 51 | #278 | — | — |
| 1880 | 44 | #236 | — | — |
Famous people named Ophelia
- Ophelia Lovibond Actor · b. 1986
Ranked by global fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Ophelia mean?
Borrowed from Italian Ofelia, coined by the poet Jacopo Sannazaro in his poem Arcadia (1504), probably from the Ancient Greek ὠφέλειᾰ (ōphéleiă, “help, aid, succour”).
How popular is the name Ophelia in 2025?
Ophelia ranked #264 among girls' names in the United States in 2025, with 1,183 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
How many people are named Ophelia?
25,785 babies have been named Ophelia in the United States since 1880, based on Social Security card applications.
When was the name Ophelia most popular?
Ophelia peaked in 2024, when 1,223 newborns received the name.
Is Ophelia a boy or girl name?
Ophelia is overwhelmingly a girl's name — 100% of babies with the name.
Is the name Ophelia rising or falling?
Ophelia is on the rise — noticeably more popular now than a decade ago.
Who are famous people named Ophelia?
Well-known people named Ophelia include Ophelia Lovibond (actor).