So you love the name Ophelia, but your pregnant best friend already called dibs on it? Fortunately, there are a lot of girl names that sound and feel like Ophelia, and if you add all the romantic girl names that share the Shakespearean connection, the name pool gets even bigger.
Here are 30 beautiful Ophelia alternatives you might want to consider if Ophelia is off the table:
Not only is Olivia similar to Ophelia in sound and style, it also boasts Shakespearean cachet: In Twelfth Night, Olivia is portrayed as a wealthy and beautiful noblewoman who gets caught up in a love triangle with Duke Orsino and Cesario (Viola in disguise).
One of the currently most popular girl names, Amelia is a revived vintage darling with feminist cred via aviation pioneer and author Amelia Earhart, the first woman to cross over the Atlantic Ocean by airplane. Its soft vowel beginning and lilting -elia ending further add to its allure.
Bearing resemblance to Ophelia at both its front and back ends, Octavia strikes us as an elegant and feminine name, a perfect alternative to Ophelia. The name also has some Shakespearean cred, as a character in Antony and Cleopatra.
This A-beginning vintage girl name feels strong and luxurious thanks to its Aw-powered beginning, multi-syllabic flow and dazzling meaning ("golden", derived from the Latin word aureus).
First popular in the early 1900s, and now blooming once again, this nature-inspired girls' name is ornate and romantic, just like Ophelia. Plus, they both boast the long O-sound and the -lia ending.
This one checks several boxes: It has the ph sound, and the ia ending. It has literary credentials, and an elegant, feminine sound. On the downside, it may feel a bit overdone, especially if you count all the little Sofias and Sophies.
Eleanor is sophisticated, quaint, literary and decidedly feminine, so it's easy to see why Ophelia fans might like it. Bonus? It comes with a whole host of winning nicknames, ranging from Ellie and Ella to Nora and Nori.
Though a syllable shorter than Ophelia, Celia feels rich with potential thanks to its -ia ending and Shakespearean ties. For the uninitiated, Celia appears in Shakespeare's play As You Like It, where she's the attractive and intelligent cousin of the main character, Rosalind.
If Celia feels too brief, how about Cecilia? While it doesn't have that Shakespearean connection, it does have several qualities that might appeal to parents who are drawn to names like Ophelia: vintage charm, rhythm and—of course—the romantic -lia ending.
Athena has an appealing, modern sound but is rooted in history. In ancient Greek mythology, Athena was the goddess of wisdom, patronage of the city Athens, handicrafts and warfare, among others. While this beautiful girls' name doesn't visually have much in common with Ophelia, there's something about its strong yet feminine feel that we think might win over a few Ophelia fans.
Shakespeare's Ophelia was a tragic figure who did not meet a happy end, just like the biblical Delilah. Yet, both girls' names have seen a huge surge in popularity this century, undoubtedly helped by their gorgeous sounds and feminine allure.
This vintage-infused Ophelia alternative gained some fraction as a girl's name in the 1900s, though not enough to make it to the list of the top 1900s girl names. And if you swap the "e" for an "i", you'll get the saint-inspired Catholic girl name Odilia.
This gorgeous name is borne by the tragic heroine of Shakespeare's play King Lear. With its Shakespearean pedigree, elegant sound, and the -elia ending, Cordelia might be a top contender for parents looking for an alternative to Ophelia.
Long popular in several European countries, Emilia has become a favorite for American baby girls, too. It's frillier than the classic E-beginning girl name Emily, and it has a sterling Shakespearean pedigree, being the name of several Shakespearean characters. The most famous of the crop? The intelligent yet ill-fated wife of Iago in Othello.
This one was made famous by another ancient literary giant, Homer. In his epic poem Odyssey, Penelope is the faithful and clever wife of Odysseus, renowned for her unwavering loyalty and strategic wit during his husband's long absence. The name's strong literary connotations, combined with its ornate charm, make it a compelling candidate for parents looking for an alternative to Ophelia.
Eloise is a lovely blast-from-the-past with literary cred via the fictional heroine of Kay Thompson's book of the same name. We think Eloise could be a great alternative to Ophelia—or it could make a nice pairing for an older sibling by the name.
This romantic, rose-scented name was a solid but not overused girls' name back in the 1930s, and parents are now embracing it once again.
If you like the sophisticated sound and vintage appeal of Ophelia, Genevieve might be right up your alley. It feels regal and refined, and it's been making a huge comeback. Catholic and Francophile parents may appreciate the link to St. Genevieve, the patroness saint of Paris.
Josephine feels vintage and classic at the same time—just like Ophelia! And they both have that ph sound in the middle. Is that enough to convince you to jump on the Josephine bandwagon?
Willow ends where Ophelia begins: the wonderful o-sound. If you have a thing for nature-inspired girl names with symbolic power to boot, the meaning-rich Willow might be perfect.
Elaborately feminine and effortlessly international, Eliana has become a popular name choice for American baby girls, but it's also commonly heard in Latin American countries and Italy. Eliana's surge to fame has spawn quite a few spelling variations—Ellianna, Elianna, Ellianna are all possibilities you could consider if you like this lilting yet strong girl's name.
Soundwise, this one doesn't have much in common with Ophelia, but it's not always the sound that counts. Like Ophelia, Isabella goes back eons as a given name, and it has that same feminine, romantic feel. And, it belongs to a Shakespearean character: In Measure for Measure, Isabella is portrayed as virtuous and morally steadfast young woman who becomes entangled in a series of ethical and moral dilemmas.
If you're crushed that Ophelia is not a biblical name, try Phoebe, which belongs to a devout and influential Christian woman mentioned in the New Testament. Not a churchgoer? Phoebe also has other areas of appeal, including a compelling meaning ("shining" or "bright", derived from Ancient Greek), connections to Greek mythology, and a sweet, modern sound. When spelled Phebe (without the "o"), it's a Shakespearean character, albeit a minor one.
If you like Ophelia and are not opposed to Phoebe, Daphne might be a contender, too. Yes, it's a lot more compact than Ophelia, but it's sweet, deep-rooted, and a member of the exclusive group of girl names that have ph in the middle. And, like sister Phoebe, Daphne also carries mythological associations.
Even more romantic than the Shakespearean classic Juliet, this one is all about frills and femininity, making it a solid contender for anyone looking for an alternative to Ophelia. Of course, you can also leave out the frills and go with the streamlined Juliet—that works, too.
Yet another -ia ending name with Shakespearean cachet, Lavinia gained some traction in the late 19th century—but not enough to earn it a spot on the list of the most popular Victorian-era girl names. Since then, Lavinia has pretty much fallen into baby name oblivion. Time to bring it back?
Next up is Anastasia, a towering A-beginning classic girls' name that gives off romantic and mysterious vibes. Credit the lost Romanov princess for those vibes.
Most of the Ophelia alternatives included in this list are long, elaborate appellations, but there's something about this Cleopatra short form that we think might appeal to Ophelia fans. And if you've got an intrepid streak, you might even consider the full-blown Cleopatra (as in the Egyptian queen Cleopatra, whose love affair with the Roman General Marcus Antonius inspired Shakespeare to write the play Antony and Cleopatra).
A currently underappreciated V-beginning classic girls' name, Viola is a musical moniker and an unusual flower name in one. Plus, it has Shakespearean cred via the protagonist of the play Twelfth Night.
Underused in the U.S. but well-loved in parts of Europe, Noelia rhymes with Ophelia and offers an array of nicknames, from Nellie to Ellie to Lia. The pared-down Noelle could also be an option, either as a nickname or the formal name.