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Why parents love Ophelia- Shakespeare's Ophelia is hauntingly beautiful — tragedy as poetry.
- The meaning help is gentle and purposeful.
- Four syllables with a flowing, liquid sound: oh-FEEL-yah.
- The Pre-Raphaelite paintings of Ophelia are among art's most beautiful images.
- It's been reclaimed — parents now see beauty, not just tragedy.
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The vibe of Ophelia
ShakespeareanflowingreclaimedPre-Raphaeliteliquidhauntingbeautifulhelp
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Origin & history of Ophelia
→ έλεια (ōpheleia, help/advantage)
→ Shakespeare's Ophelia (1600)
1
English / Greek roots
Ophelia comes from the Greek ōpheleia meaning help or advantage. Shakespeare created the character for Hamlet (c. 1600): Ophelia is the gentle daughter of Polonius who descends into madness after Hamlet rejects her and kills her father. Her death by drowning among flowers inspired some of the most famous paintings in art history, particularly John Everett Millais' Ophelia (1851–1852). The name was long avoided due to its tragic associations, but has been dramatically reclaimed in the 21st century, entering the US top 200.
2
First recorded
Earliest known use: Shakespeare's Hamlet (c. 1600); possibly used earlier in Italian as Ofelia.
3
Today
Ophelia remains a beloved choice, ranking #425 in the US. 24,590 babies have been named Ophelia since 1880.
◈ Sources: Behind the Name, Oxford Dictionary of First Names, SSA data
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How popular is Ophelia?
2024
peak year
The name Ophelia reached its peak in 2024, with 1,215 registrations (ranked #261). The name has actually been around since 1880 — over a century — though it took until recently to find its widest audience. Since the peak, the name has eased to around #425 today, averaging about 859 new babies per year. Ophelia has been trending upward in recent years. Across all years on record, approximately 24,590 American babies have carried this name.
Year-by-year registrations
1880–2024 · U.S. Social Security data
1,215
Babies named in peak year
(ranked #261)
(ranked #261)
859
Avg. per year
(last decade)
(last decade)
8,590
Total registrations
last 10 years
last 10 years
24,590
All-time total
(since 1880)
(since 1880)
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Numerology of Ophelia3
Life path number
The Creator
Creativity, joy and self-expression.
Ophelia's Life Path 9 is the humanitarian's number — help as her very name and nature. People named Ophelia tend to be sensitive, deeply feeling, and drawn to beauty even in difficult circumstances.
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Finds beauty in difficulty✦
Deeply sensitive◈
Helps by nature◎
Flowing resilience♡
Reclaimed from sorrowO6
P7
H8
E5
L3
I9
A1
Sum: 39 → Life path 3
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Personality of Ophelia✨
Bright & creative
Imaginative, expressive, endlessly inventive.
😊
Magnetic warmth
Their laugh is contagious. People love being near them.
🌈
Eternal optimist
Even in dark moments they find the light.
🗣️
Storyteller
They can describe anything and make it fascinating.
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Famous people named OpheliaClick any name to view their Wikipedia page.
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If you like Ophelia, you may also love♩
Names that combine with OpheliaSibling pairings that share the timeless, classic energy of Ophelia.
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Middle names for OpheliaThe right middle name turns Ophelia into a complete story. Explore options for first-and-middle pairings, then last-name flow.
Want a personalised middle name for Ophelia? Try our dedicated generator with 1,000+ pairings.
♡ Generate middle name for Ophelia →✦
Numerology life path calculatorEnter any full name and date of birth to discover the life path number — a core numerological indicator of personality, purpose and destiny.
First name
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Last name
Date of birth
7
Life path number
How we calculated this
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