Orpha: Name Popularity, History & Rankings (1880

By decade. Change compares yearly averages, so the current partial decade is on equal footing. Best rank is the name's best yearly rank within the decade.

Decade	Girls	Per year	Change	Best rank
1880s	431	43	–	#263
1890s	773	77	+79%	#275
1900s	783	78	+1%	#340
1910s	1,404	140	+79%	#438
1920s	1,307	131	-7%	#514
1930s	611	61	-53%	#730
1940s	289	29	-53%	#1,224
1950s	157	16	-46%	#2,174
1960s	81	8	-48%	#3,967
1970s	56	6	-31%	#4,417
1980s	39	4	-30%	#7,115
1990s	5	1	-87%	#15,110
2000s	21	2	+320%	#16,955
2010s	11	1	-48%	#16,367
2020s (to 2025)	6	1	-9%	#14,850

Decade

Girls

Per year

Change

Best rank

1880s

431

–

#263

1890s

773

+79%

#275

1900s

783

+1%

#340

1910s

1,404

140

+79%

#438

1920s

1,307

131

-7%

#514

1930s

611

-53%

#730

1940s

289

-53%

#1,224

1950s

157

-46%

#2,174

1960s

-48%

#3,967

1970s

-31%

#4,417

1980s

-30%

#7,115

1990s

-87%

#15,110

2000s

+320%

#16,955

2010s

-48%

#16,367

2020s (to 2025)

-9%

#14,850

The story of Orpha

Orpha is not currently in use for newborns in the United States: fewer than five babies received the name in 2025. Its story lives in the historical record below.

Since 1880, 5,974 American babies have been named Orpha. Its peak came in 1917, when 204 newborns received the name, the signature sound of the 1910s.

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 Orpha stood among all girls' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.

How old are people named Orpha?

The median living Orpha is about 77 years old; half are between 62 and 87. An estimated 700 people named Orpha are alive in the United States today.

Estimated from births per year and Social Security period life tables; an approximation of the living age distribution, by age in years.

Orpha year by year

Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.

Year	Girls	Girls rank
2025	–	–
2024	6	#14,850
2023	–	–
2022	–	–
2021	–	–
2020	–	–
2019	–	–
2018	–	–
2017	–	–
2016	5	#18,184
2015	–	–
2014	–	–
2013	–	–
2012	6	#16,367
2011	–	–
2010	–	–
2009	–	–
2008	6	#16,955
2007	–	–
2006	5	#19,304
2005	–	–
2004	5	#18,110
2003	5	#17,704
2002	–	–
2001	–	–
2000	–	–
1995	–	–
1990	–	–
1985	–	–
1980	6	#9,985
1975	5	#10,133
1970	13	#4,417
1965	8	#5,168
1960	10	#4,382
1955	13	#3,335
1950	20	#2,233
1945	17	#2,131
1940	32	#1,337
1935	64	#864
1930	80	#793
1925	115	#687
1920	185	#514
1915	195	#438
1910	83	#438
1905	71	#403
1900	94	#342
1895	85	#316
1890	69	#300
1885	57	#263
1880	29	#293

Frequently asked questions

Quick answers about Orpha, drawn from the same Social Security data as the charts above.

How old is the average Orpha?

The median living Orpha is about 77 years old. Half of all living Orphas are between 62 and 87 years old.

How many people named Orpha are alive today?

An estimated 700 people named Orpha are alive in the United States, based on 5,974 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

How popular is the name Orpha in 2025?

Orpha did not appear in the 2025 Social Security data, which means fewer than five babies received the name that year.

How many people are named Orpha?

5,974 babies have been named Orpha in the United States since 1880, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Orpha most popular?

Orpha peaked in 1917, when 204 newborns received the name.

Is Orpha a boy or girl name?

Orpha is overwhelmingly a girl's name: 100% of babies with the name.

Is the name Orpha rising or falling?

Orpha is on the rise, noticeably more popular now than a decade ago.

Orpha

Orpha popularity over time

The story of Orpha

How old are people named Orpha?

Orpha year by year

Frequently asked questions

Names like Orpha