Ophia
Feminine name derived from the Greek word "ophis" meaning "serpent".
Name Census estimates that about 2 living Americans carry the first name Ophia. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Ophia today is around 111 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Ophia births was 1921 (14 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Ophia. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
Key insights
- • The typical person named Ophia is about 111 years old today, placing it firmly among the names of earlier generations. Most living Ophias were born before 1925.
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Ophia. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
2
~ 1 in 171,377,169 Americans
Peak year
1921
14 babies that year
Average age
111
years old
1928 SSA rank
#5,253
Tracked since 1891
Popularity
Ophia: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Ophia from the 1890s through to the 1920s, spanning 4 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1910s, with 68 total registrations. Although the numbers have come down from the 1910s peak, Ophia remains solidly in use and shows no sign of disappearing from maternity wards.
Babies born per year
Decades
Ophia by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Ophia during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Ophias live
Origin
Meaning and history of Ophia
The given name Ophia has its roots in ancient Greek culture, originating from the word "ophis," which means "serpent" or "snake." This name can be traced back to the 5th century BC, when it was likely used to honor the symbolic significance of snakes in Greek mythology and religious practices.
One of the earliest recorded mentions of the name Ophia can be found in the writings of the ancient Greek historian Herodotus, who lived in the 5th century BC. He documented the name in his accounts of the Persian Wars, referring to an individual by this name.
In Greek mythology, the serpent was often associated with wisdom, healing, and rebirth. As a result, the name Ophia may have been bestowed upon individuals who were believed to possess these qualities or were involved in healing practices or spiritual rituals.
One of the most notable historical figures bearing the name Ophia was a female philosopher and mathematician who lived in the 3rd century BC in Alexandria, Egypt. She was a student of the renowned mathematician Euclid and is renowned for her contributions to the field of geometry.
Another prominent individual named Ophia was a Greek physician who lived in the 2nd century AD during the Roman Empire. She was known for her expertise in herbal medicine and her dedication to treating the poor and underprivileged.
In the Byzantine era, an Ophia was recorded as a nun and abbess of a convent in Constantinople in the 6th century AD. She was revered for her piety and her contributions to the spiritual community.
During the Renaissance period, an Italian artist named Ophia Gozzoli, born in 1420, gained recognition for her exquisite frescoes and religious paintings, which adorned numerous churches and cathedrals throughout Italy.
In the 19th century, Ophia Lovering, an American educator and activist, was born in 1820. She was a pioneer in advocating for women's rights and played a significant role in establishing educational opportunities for women in the United States.
People
Ophia + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Ophia as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with O
Other first names starting with O with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Ophia: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Ophia?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 2 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Ophia going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 171,377,169 US residents.
Is Ophia a common name?
We classify Ophia as "Very Rare". It ranks above 4.3% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 174 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Ophia most popular?
The single biggest year for Ophia was 1921, when 14 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Ophia is about 111 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
What does the SSA popularity chart show?
The chart tracks births, not the number of people alive with the name today. Each point shows how many babies were given the name Ophia in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Ophia a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Ophia in the SSA data are female. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Is Ophia still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Ophia in 2024, and the page above shows its latest-year rank where available. A name can be well past its peak and still remain in steady use, especially if it built up a large population over earlier decades.
Why can a name have a lot of living bearers even if it is not trendy now?
Because living-bearer counts and current baby-name popularity measure different things. A name like Ophia can build up a very large population over many decades, even if fewer parents are choosing it now than they did at its peak.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.
Does every first name have Census demographic data?
No. The public Census first-name release only covers names that met the Bureau's publication rules, so many rarer names in the SSA files do not have a published Census demographic snapshot. In those cases, the page still shows the SSA trend, gender history, and state data.
How many people are named Ophia?
Find out how many Americans are named Ophia on our sister site HowManyOfMe.org — a quick modern estimate with the living-bearer count front and centre.