Holding steady.
Popularity of Opha since 1887
Babies named Opha per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1917, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Opha's real moment was 1887.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1880s | 16 |
| 1890s | 61 |
| 1900s | 98 |
| 1910s | 109 |
| 1920s | 109 |
| 1930s | 29 |
| 1940s | 5 |
| 1950s | 0 |
| 1960s | 0 |
| 1970s | 0 |
| 1980s | 0 |
| 1990s | 0 |
| 2000s | 0 |
| 2010s | 0 |
| 2020s | 0 |
Meaning & origin
Opha is an exceedingly rare American name, first recorded in 1887 with just a handful of instances. Its peak and only year of notable use was 1887, after which it virtually disappeared. With no appearances in any state's top baby name lists and a trajectory described as 'stable' (meaning consistently negligible), Opha represents a true naming outlier. The name's origins remain unclear, possibly a variant of the biblical Ophrah or a phonetic invention of the era. For parents seeking a name that is genuinely unique and historically rooted in the late 19th century, Opha offers a obscure but authentic choice, though it lacks the deep etymological and cultural associations of more established names.
The name Opha may be a variant of Ophrah, which appears in the Bible as a place name and personal name. The Hebrew root עֹפֶר ('ofer') means 'fawn' or 'young deer'. However, Opha's usage in the late 19th century suggests it could also be a creative respelling or an independent coinage. Its brief appearance in U.S. records during the 1880s and 1890s aligns with a period of inventive naming, but no firm etymological trail exists.
Nicknames & variants
Variants: Ophrah
Sibling names for Opha
Names that share Opha's style, for a brother or sister.
