Best O Names for Girls
Girl names that start with O feel fresh and fantastic now that names starting with A and then E have had their turns in the spotlight.
Here are ten more wonderful names for girls that start with this most cheery, open and optimistic of vowels:
Ocean
Names that mean water are in for both girls and boys, from River to Lake to Ocean. Ocean feels chic, stylish, and makes a statement for sure. She entered the Top 1000 for the first time for girls in 2021, and for boys in 2020. The French favorite Oceane adds some sophistication, and Oceana puts a more obviously feminine spin on the name.
Octavia
Octavia has a rich history, dating back to the ancient Roman Imperial family. More recently it’s been attached to Oscar-winning actress Octavia Spencer, to a character in The Hunger Games, and a character in the sci-fi TV show The 100. Octavia's connection to the number eight would make her a great choice for a girl born in August, the eighth month.
October
Move over April, May, and June — October is stealing the spotlight. This distinctive month name comes with the sweet boyish nickname Toby. October was chosen by innovative author/editor Dave Eggers and wife Vendela Vida for their daughter.
Odelia
Parents are loving Amelia and Ophelia, so why not Odelia? This beautiful Hebrew name means "I will praise the Lord" or "wealth". Frilly and feminine girl names are in now, from Sophia to Olivia to Isabella, and this would be a refreshing and unexpected option.
Odette
The good swan from Tchaikovsky's Swan Lake gives Odette a delicate, ballerina feel. Today it would make a particularly soigne, sophisticated yet upbeat choice, unlike some of the more dated other 'ette'-ending names. Mark Ruffalo named his daughter Odette in 2007. The evil swan, Odile, is another obscure O name.
Top O Names for Girls in the US
Olive
While Olivia is all ruffles and bows, Olive has a more subtle, understated beauty. This vintage pick is coming back strong, entering the Top 200 and rising fast. Olive was a Top 100 name in the late 1800s along with other vintage nature names like Myrtle, Daisy, and Flora. The association with the olive branch — a symbol of peace — adds to her appeal.
Olympia
This name has a lot to live up to, from a vast mountain to a worldwide athletic championship to the home of the Greek gods. Olympia's similar sounds to popular Olivia give her a lot of potential. A well-known art reference is the famous 1865 painting of a reclining nude by Edouard Manet titled Olympia.
Onyx
Onyx certainly stands out, from being an obscure gem name to that ultra-cool "-x" ending. Onyx has ranked in the Top 1000 for boys since 2018 but has yet to make the charts for girls. Nick Cannon naming his daughter Onyx Ice this year may give Onyx a boost on the girl's side, causing her to join Phoenix and Lennox in the list of trending gender-neutral names ending in X.
Oona
Why just one O when you can have two — adding that extra oomph! Oona, aka Una, was the legendary daughter of a king of Lochlainn in Celtic mythology. Her name became known in the US via the daughter of Eugene O’Neill, who became the wife of Charlie Chaplin. It now lives on with young actress Oona Castilla Chaplin, Charlie’s granddaughter, known for her role as Queen Talisa Stark, nee Maegyr, in Game of Thrones. Eddie Murphy just recently used Oona as his daughter Izzy’s middle name.
Opal
The opal is a lovely iridescent gem, the birthstone of October, considered by the ancients as a symbol of hope and good luck It would make a luminous addition to the Rubys and Jades already polished up again and back in the jewelry box. Opal was a Top 100 name in the early 1900s, remaining on the list until 1960. She is now up and coming again, ranking at 547.
Unique Girl Names Starting With O
Ophelia
Although there were many baby Ophelias in the US through the 1950s, the popularity of the name fell off dramatically, possibly by parents put off by the tragic image of the Shakespearean character. But that definitely seems to be changing — Ophelia returned to the Top 1000 in 2015, and has shot up to the 300s.
Oriana
This radiant, rich name means "dawn" — the same as similar-sounding (and Top 50 name) Aurora. Oriana has an admirable literary resume. In medieval tales, she was the love interest of the knight Amadis. Oriana appears in at least three seventeenth-century plays, and there is an early Tennyson poem called The Ballad of Oriana. Oriana was also sometimes used to refer to Queen Elizabeth I. Oriana Fallaci was a notable feminist Italian journalist who interviewed many world leaders in the late 1900s.
Orla
Orla has a beautiful, lush sound as well as a lovely meaning — "golden princess". This Irish name is strongly associated with high king Brian Boru, as it was the name of his sister, daughter, and niece. Orla was popular in the Middle Ages and has made a strong comeback in Ireland, Scotland, England, and Wales today. However, she has yet to make it over to the States.
Ottessa
While this name may look similar to the place-name Odessa (another lovely O option), Ottessa actually comes from the ancient name Atossa. The historical Atossa was born into nobility and initially married to her brother, Atossa later became a powerful wife of Darius I. The author Ottessa Moshfegh is a notable bearer of this name. Ottessa easily shortens to sweet Tess or Tessa.
Ottilie
This quirky French name means "prosperous in battle". A variation of the more polished Ottiline, neither name has been seen much since the 1880s. However, her fun, energetic sound as well as the sweet vintage nickname options Lottie and Tillie make Ottilie a great choice for a parent looking for an offbeat name. Ottilia and Ottoline are other variations.
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