Ophelia Name Origin
Ophelia comes from ancient Greek. It means "help" or "benefit." The name became popular because of Shakespeare’s play *Hamlet*, where Ophelia is a character. After that, people started using it as a girl's name.
- Type: First Name
- Gender: Female
- Pronunciation: oh-FEEL-ee-uh
Ophelia Meaning
Ophelia is a beautiful name that comes from Greek. It means "help" or "aid." The name was made by combining Greek words related to helping or benefiting others.
It became famous because of Shakespeare's play "Hamlet," where Ophelia is a character. She is often seen as gentle and kind but also sad and tragic.
People sometimes think of Ophelia as a symbol of innocence and beauty. The name feels poetic and a bit mysterious because of its story in literature.
History
Ophelia is a name that became well-known because of Shakespeare’s play *Hamlet*, written around 1600. In the play, Ophelia is a young woman who is gentle and tragic. This made the name popular in English-speaking countries.
Before Shakespeare, Ophelia was very rare or almost unknown as a name. After *Hamlet* became famous, people started using it more, especially in the 19th century. It sounded elegant and poetic.
In the 1800s, Ophelia was quite popular in England and the United States. It was often chosen for girls because it felt romantic and literary. Over time, the name became less common but never disappeared completely.
Today, Ophelia is still used but is more unique. It has a vintage charm and is sometimes chosen by parents who like classic or Shakespearean names. The name also appears in other countries, often in places where English literature is admired.
Famous People
Ophelia Lovibond is an English actress known for her roles in movies and TV shows like "Guardians of the Galaxy" and "Elementary." She has a charming and lively acting style.
Ophelia DeVore was an African-American model and businesswoman. She helped break racial barriers in the fashion industry during the 1940s and founded a modeling agency.
Ophelia Pastrana is a Colombian-Mexican scientist and comedian. She uses humor to teach science and talks about LGBTQ+ rights. She is well-known on social media.
Name Trends
This chart shows how many babies were given the name Ophelia each year, based on data from the U.S. Government's Social Security Administration (SSA). It's a fun way to see how the name's popularity has changed over time!
The blue line shows how many boys were named Ophelia, while the pink line shows how many girls were given the same name.
If the lines go up, that means more babies got the name that year. If they go down, the name was used less. You can spot trends, like when the name became really popular or started to fade.