Holding steady.
Popularity of Orpah since 1899
Babies named Orpah per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1923, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Orpah's real moment was 1899.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1890s | 5 |
| 1900s | 0 |
| 1910s | 40 |
| 1920s | 57 |
| 1930s | 0 |
| 1940s | 0 |
| 1950s | 5 |
| 1960s | 0 |
| 1970s | 0 |
| 1980s | 0 |
| 1990s | 0 |
| 2000s | 0 |
| 2010s | 0 |
| 2020s | 0 |
Meaning & origin
Orpah is a biblical name that has never gained widespread use. Its rarity is underscored by the latest statistics: in 2025, there were zero recorded births, and the name has not appeared in the top 1000 since the 1890s. Its peak usage occurred in 1899, when it was given to approximately 1 in 1,000,000 newborns (6 births). The trajectory has remained stable at near-zero for decades, with no revival evident. Orpah remains a distinctive choice for parents seeking a name with a strong Old Testament connection but minimal contemporary usage.
Orpah is a Hebrew name of uncertain derivation. It appears in the Book of Ruth as the woman who chooses to stay behind when her mother-in-law Naomi returns to Bethlehem. The name may derive from the Hebrew word 'oreph' meaning 'back of the neck' or 'nape', possibly symbolizing turning away. Others connect it to 'opher' meaning 'fawn' or 'young deer'. The name was rarely used until it gained modest attention in the 19th and early 20th centuries.
Sibling names for Orpah
Names that share Orpah's style, for a brother or sister.
