Girl Names That Start With O

The letter O holds a special place when choosing a name for a girl. Although the most popular name in the United States starts with O, only a handful of names beginning with this letter appear in the top 1000 girls’ names.

Below is a selection of O names, ranging from the most common to the most unique, each offering a distinctive charm.

Popular Girl Names That Start With O

Olivia

This lovely name tops the list for girls’ names that start with O! Olivia likely comes from the Latin name Oliva, meaning “olive.” One of the first uses with this spelling most probably comes from William Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night.

The name has been used in the English-speaking world as a girls’ name since the eighteenth century but gained popularity in the latter half of the twentieth century. Famous Olivias include actress Olivia de Havilland, Olivia Newton-John, and Olivia Wilde.

Olive

Olive comes from the English and French word for the Mediterranean tree, from the Latin word oliva. It ranks as one of the top names for girls beginning with O in the United States. One of the most famous uses of the name comes from the cartoon Popeye the Sailor Man, with Olive being his love interest.

Oakley

Many cool and popular names come from surnames, and Oakley is no exception. Like most surnames that become first names, it comes from a place name. It means “oak clearing” in Old English. American sharpshooter Annie Oakley had this as her surname.

If you’re looking for a cool, unisex name that begins with O, this is a good choice.

Oaklynn

This trendy name comes from Oakley but adds lynn to the end of the name to make it more feminine.

Octavia

This name has its roots with the Ancient Romans, being the feminine form of Octavius. In history, Octavia was the wife of Mark Antony and the sister of the emperor Augustus.

Since this name means “eighth,” it was often used for the eighth child in the family—Octavius for a boy and Octavia for a girl. Today it’s a pretty name that can be used no matter which order your little girl was born in.

One famous modern example of this lovely name is actress Octavia Spencer.

Ophelia

This name comes from the Ancient Greek word opheleia, meaning “help” or “advantage.” It was made famous by Shakespeare’s Hamlet and all the Pre-Raphaelite art that came afterward.

Although Shakespeare popularized it, fifteenth-century poet Jacopo Sannazaro brought this rare ancient Greek name back in his poem, Arcadia.

Oaklyn

This is another popular variant for the name Oaklynn.

Oaklee

If you like the name Oakley and want a different spelling, you can try it with the double E.

Opal

Coming from the Sanskrit word for “jewel,” the name Opal makes you think of the beautiful iridescent gemstone.

If your little girl is a jewel—or is born in October (opal is the birthstone for that month), you may want to name your little darling after this gorgeous stone.

Oakleigh

This name could come as a variant of Oakley, but there are some cases where the names Oak and Leigh have been put together to make this pretty and trendy name.

Unique Girl Names That Start With O

Ocean

A name as serene as the large body of water it’s named for, Ocean comes from the ancient Greek word Okeanos, meaning the “body of water thought to surround the earth.” It’s a poetic and beautiful name, perfect for a girl who stands out.

Odalis

This name is popular in Latin America and originates from the Germanic name Odilia. It has a unique and warm sound that is both charming and distinctive.

Odessa

Odessa is an unusual and refined name that could derive from the feminine form of Odysseus. It’s also the name of a seaside city in Ukraine on the coast of the Black Sea. This name carries a sense of elegance and historical richness.

Odilia

This charming and uncommon name means “fatherland” and “wealth” or “fortune” in Old German. It’s a name that rolls off the tongue, offering a touch of sophistication and heritage.

Oenone

Originating from the Latinized form of the Greek name Oinone, this name has vinicultural roots as oinos means “wine.”

In mythology, Oenone was a mountain nymph married to Paris before he met Helen. It’s a name full of myth and mystery.

Ofeliya

If you like the name Ophelia but want a more unique version, Ofeliya might be the choice for you.

It’s the Azerbaijani, Russian, Ukrainian, and Bulgarian form of Ophelia, giving it a multicultural twist.

Oighrig

Oighrig comes from Scottish Gaelic and has been Anglicized into the name Euphemia. It originates from an older Gaelic name Aithbhreac, made up of ath, acting like the prefix “re-” and breac, meaning “speckled.”

Odharnait

A rare Irish name, Odharnait comes from the Gaelic word odar, meaning “greyish brown” or “tan,” combined with a diminutive suffix.

It’s also the name of an early Irish saint, adding a historical and spiritual touch.

Olalla

This pretty Spanish variant of Eulalia originally means “sweetly-speaking.” It’s a lovely name with a melodic and gentle sound.

Olwen

Meaning “white footprint” in Welsh, Olwen comes from Welsh mythology. In the tale of Culhwch and Olwen, she was a beautiful maiden whose father set several tasks for her beloved before they could marry.

This name has a romantic and unique feel, ideal if you or your family have Welsh heritage.

Cute O Girl Names

Oanez

Oanez is derived from the Breton word oan, meaning “lamb.” It’s also the Breton form of the name Agnes. This name evokes an image of gentleness and innocence.

Odetta

Odetta carries a melodic charm. It is the Latinate form of Odette, which itself is a French diminutive of the name Oda. This name has a graceful, sweet sound.

Olesya

Olesya is a diminutive of the Ukrainian name Oleksandra. This name is historic, as it was used in a nineteenth-century novel by Aleksandr Kuprin.

Olgica

The name Olgica is a diminutive of Olga and is popularly used in North Macedonia and Serbia. It brings a soft and affectionate feeling.

Oni

Oni is a lovely name with roots in West Africa. In the Yoruban language, it means “born in a sacred abode.” This name has a unique and special resonance.

Oralee

Oralee is a rare name and a variant of Aurelie. It offers a beautiful and soft tone that is both unique and enchanting.

Orietta

Orietta is an Italian diminutive of the name Oria, which stems from the Latin term aureus, meaning “golden.” This name has a warm and rich quality.

Ollie

Ollie is a charming unisex name that can be a diminutive form of Olivia, Olive, or similar names. It has a friendly and approachable vibe.

Olya

Olya is a diminutive of Olga, often used to express affection. This name has a cute and loving essence.

Oluchi

Oluchi means “God’s work” in the Igbo language spoken in Nigeria. It is a meaningful and charming name for those with Nigerian or West African heritage.

Cool Girl Names That Start With O

Oprah

Everyone knows Oprah Winfrey, but her real name was Orpah. The name Oprah came about because people mispronounced Orpah, and it stuck. Oprah didn’t invent this name, but she did make it famous.

Odell

Odell comes from a surname, which was originally a place name in Old English. It combines wad, meaning “woad,” a plant for blue dye, and hyll, meaning “hill.”

Olga

Olga is the Russian form of the Old Norse name Helga. It’s a popular name in Slavic, Scandinavian, and Baltic regions. Notable people include Saint Olga of Kyiv and Nobel Prize–winning author Olga Tokarczuk.

Olympias

Olympias is the feminine form of Olympos, the name of the mountain where the Greek gods were believed to live. This name was shared by the mother of Alexander the Great.

Omega

Omega is a unisex name that comes from the last letter of the Greek alphabet. It symbolizes completion and is considered a strong and unique name.

Oneida

Oneida is a beautiful name with roots in a Native American tribe. It likely means “standing rock.”

Onóra

Onóra is the Irish version of the name Honora, which is based on the Latin word for “honor,” “esteem,” and “dignity.”

Oona

Oona is used in Finland and Ireland. It’s derived from the name Úna, which means “lamb” in Old Irish.

Ophir

Ophir is a unisex Hebrew name, though its meaning remains unknown. The name appears in the Bible as the son of Joktan and also as a place name.

Oriana

Oriana is popular in Italy and Spain and stems from the Latin word aurum, meaning “gold.” Oriana was also the wife of Amadís de Gaula, the hero in a fourteenth-century Spanish romance tale.

International Girl Names That Start With O

Obdulia

This name has Spanish origins, and a saint from Toledo once bore this name. Its meaning remains unknown.

Oana

This Romanian name is a short form of Ioana, which comes from John.

Octávia

The Portuguese variant of Octavia is accented at the first “A.”

Odarka

Odarka is the Ukrainian version of Dariya, which means “possessing goodness” in Persian.

Orsolya

Orsolya is the Hungarian take on Ursula, translating to “little bear” in Latin.

Ognena

Ognena has Bulgarian roots from the word “ognen,” meaning “fiery.”

It is the North Macedonian feminine form of Ognyan.

Oksana

This Ukrainian version of Xenia means “hospitality” in Greek.

Oleksandra

Oleksandra is how Ukrainians translate the Greek name Alexandra.

Oldřiška

A Czech name meaning “prosperity and power,” it is the feminine form of Ulrich.

Ofelia

The Spanish and Italian form of Ophelia, also Portuguese with an accent on the “E.”

African Girl Names That Start With O

Otobong

Coming from the southern coastal region of Nigeria, Otobong means “from God” in the Ibibio language.

Ogechi

Ogechi is a shorter form of the Igbo name Ogechukwukama, which translates to “God’s time is the best.”

Onyekachi

This beautiful Igbo name means “who is greater than God.”

Onyeka

If you prefer a shorter version of Onyekachi, Onyeka is a good choice. It maintains the essence of the longer name.

Onyekachukwu

A variant of Onyekachi, Onyekachukwu uses Chukwu as the last element. It means “who is greater than God” in Igbo.

Oghenekevwe

This name comes from the Urhobo people in Nigeria, near the Niger Delta. It means “God provided for me” in Urhobo.

Olamide

Originating from the Yoruba language, Olamide means “my wealth has arrived.”

Olayinka

Another Yoruban name, Olayinka means “my wealth surrounds me.”

Oluwasegun

In the Yoruba language, Oluwasegun means “God has been victorious.”

Omolara

This name from the Yoruba tribe in West Africa translates to “a child is family.”

Pretty Girl Names That Start With O

Ornella

This pretty name was allegedly created by the Italian writer Gabriele d’Annunzio for the novel La Figlia di Jorio at the beginning of the twentieth century.

It’s said to be inspired by the Tuscan Italian word ornello, which means “flowering ash tree.”

Odette

Odette is the French diminutive of Oda, with roots in the Germanic word aud, meaning “fortune” or “wealth.”

Most famously known from Tchaikovsky’s ballet Swan Lake, Odette is the princess turned into a swan.

Oébfinn

This name is the Old Irish form of Aoibheann, which means “beauty” and “fair.”

Orlanda

Orlanda is the Italian feminine form of Orlando. The name has roots in German words, meaning “fame” and “land.”

Ofira

This Hebrew name is the feminine form of Ofir. Though its meaning is unknown, it is a variant of the name Ophir.

Ofra

Ofra is the feminine variant of the name Ophrah, meaning “fawn” in Hebrew.

In the Old Testament, Ophrah is the name of both a city in Manasseh and a man mentioned in the genealogies. The name was popularized by the Israeli singer Ofra Haza.

Olivette

Olivette is a literary name, the feminine form of Oliver. It was the title character in Edmond Audran’s French opera Les noces d’Olivette.

Ondina

Ondina is the Portuguese and Italian form of Undine. The name comes from the Latin word unda, meaning “wave.”

Ouida

This name originated from the nineteenth-century British author Ouida, born Marie Louise Ramé.

She adopted the pseudonym based on her middle name Louise, which she pronounced as Ouida.

Orinthia

Possibly related to the Greek word orino, meaning “to excite” or “to agitate,” Orinthia became more commonly used as a name after George Bernard Shaw featured it in his play The Apple Cart.