The name Odell is an English given name derived from the Old English words "od" meaning wealth or prosperity, and "hyll" meaning hill or mound. It likely originated in the Middle Ages, around the 11th or 12th century, as a surname describing someone who lived near a prosperous hill or mound.

One of the earliest known bearers of the name was Odell de Deyncourt, a Norman knight who was granted lands in Lincolnshire, England, in the late 11th century after the Norman Conquest of 1066. The name appears in several medieval English records and charters from that time period.

In the 13th century, an Odell of Maskbury was recorded as a landowner in Bedfordshire, England. Another notable historical figure with the name was Sir Odell Wilkinson, a 16th-century English soldier and Member of Parliament who fought in the Anglo-Spanish War during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.

The name Odell has been used sporadically throughout history, but it gained more widespread popularity in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. One of the most famous individuals with the name was Odell Shepard, an American poet, and literary critic born in 1884 who wrote extensively about the works of Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau.

Other notable individuals with the name Odell include Odell Brewing Company founder Odell Oziers (1908-1999), American football player Odell Thurman (born 1983), and American baseball player Odell Hale (1927-2004). The name has also been used as a middle name, such as in the case of actor Odell Aughenbaugh (1886-1969) and American football coach Odell Thurman (1914-1998).

While the name Odell has roots in Old English, it has been used across various cultures and regions over the centuries, reflecting the diverse paths and influences that have shaped many given names throughout history.