Here, we’ve rounded up the most popular names that begin with the letter “O,” all of which make unique options to help your baby boy or girl stand out from the crowd.
O’Shea
Origin:IrishMeaning: Fine; FortunateFamous Namesakes: O’Shea Jackson Sr. (known professionally as rapper Ice Cube) and his son, actor O’Shea Jackson Jr.Peak Popularity: O’Shea has yet to make it into the top 1,000 baby names in the U.S., making it rather uncommon.
Oakley
Origin:BritishMeaning: Meadow of oak treesAlternative Spellings & Variations: Oaklee, Oakleigh, OaklynnFamous Namesakes: The most well-known person associated with this name is American sharpshooter Annie Oakley.Peak Popularity: Oakley barely snuck into the top 1,000 baby girl names in 2013 and has since gained massive popularity. In 2021 it ranked No. 193.
Obadiah
Origin:HebrewMeaning: Servant of GodFamous Namesakes: In the Bible, Obadiah was a prophet of the Old Testament.Peak Popularity: Obadiah is still a fairly uncommon name.
Ocean
Origin:GreekMeaning: SeaFamous Namesakes: American singer-songwriter Frank Ocean and the fictional character Danny Ocean from the “Ocean’s” movie franchisePeak Popularity: Ocean is considered a gender-neutral option but has become more popular for baby boys. In 2021 it ranked No. 711 for boys and No. 877 for girls.
Octavia
Origin:LatinMeaning: EighthAlternative Spellings & Variations: OctaviusFamous Namesakes: American actress Octavia Spencer is a well-known person with this name.Peak Popularity: Octavia has been on the radar for over a decade and continues to gain popularity. Its most popular year to date was 2021 when it ranked No. 248.
October
Origin:LatinMeaning: Historically, October means “the eighth month” (before the annual calendar was changed from 10 to 12 months).Peak Popularity: October has yet to join the ranks when it comes to the most popular U.S. names.
Odell
Origin:Old EnglishMeaning: From the woad hillAlternative Spellings & Variations: Odella, OdelleFamous Namesakes: American NFL football player Odell Beckham Jr.Peak Popularity: Odell was actually the most popular during the early 1900s. In 1973, it fell out of the top 1,000 baby names.
Odessa
Origin:GreekMeaning: Wrathful; The Odyssey; of OdysseiaAlternative Spellings & Variations: Odyssea, OdysseiaFamous Namesakes: American actress Odessa Cleveland and Odessa Grady Clay, mother of legendary boxer Muhammad AliPeak Popularity: Odessa reach peak popularity in 1908 and 1909. In 1956 it dropped out of the top 1,000 names.
Odette
Origin:FrenchMeaning: WealthyAlternative Spellings & Variations: Odet, OdoPeak Popularity: Odette remains a fairly unique name.
Odeya
Origin:HebrewMeaning: I will thank GodAlternative Spellings & Variations: Oda, Ode, Oded, OdedaPeak Popularity: Odeya is still considered a unique name, typically used for baby girls.
Odin
Origin:ScandanavianMeaning: FrenzyAlternative Spellings & Variations: Oden, Odenn, Odin, Odinn, Odon, Odonn, Odyn, OdynnFamous Namesakes: American singer Nick Carter of the Backstreet Boys named his baby boy Odin.Peak Popularity: Odin started gaining popularity in 2008 and to date, its most popular year was 2021.
Ohara
Origin:JapaneseMeaning: Large plainPeak Popularity: Ohara remains a unique gender-neutral name in the U.S.
Oksana
Origin:Russian, HebrewMeaning: Praise to GodFamous Namesakes: Ukrainian retired professional figure skater Oksana Baiul is likely the most well-known person with this name.Peak Popularity: Oksana is a fairly unique name for baby girls in the U.S.
Olena
Origin:UkranianMeaning: Shining lightAlternative Spellings & Variations: Alena, Elena, Olenya, OlinaPeak Popularity: Olena has yet to make the top 1,000 names for baby girls, but the variation Elena has become increasingly popular, ranking No. 53 in 2021.
Olin
Origin:ScandanavianMeaning: Ancestor’s heirAlternative Spellings & Variations: Olan, OlenPeak Popularity: Olin was most popular in the early 1900s and again in the 1930s before gradually falling off of the radar.
Olive
Origin:English, LatinMeaning: Olive treeAlternative Spellings & Variations: Oliver, OliviaFamous Namesakes: Olive is a popular option for celebrity offspring, with actress Drew Barrymore, country singer Jake Owen, and actor couple Isla Fisher and Sacha Baron Cohen all choosing the name for their daughters.Peak Popularity: The name Olive was most popular over a century ago in the early 1900s, but has remained a solid contender for baby girls. In 2021 it ranked No. 182.
Olivia
Origin: Latin Meaning: Olive; Olive tree Alternative Spellings & Variations: Alyvia, Livia, Livie, Lyvia, Olive, Olivie, Olyvia Famous Namesakes: American actresses Olivia Wilde and Olivia Munn, Australian actress and singer Olivia Newton-John, and American singer Olivia Rodrigo Peak Popularity: Olivia slid into the top 10 names for baby girls in 2003 and has continued to gain popularity. It has held the No. 1 spot for three consecutive years, from 2019 to 2021.
Ollie
Origin:LatinMeaning: Peaceful; Olive treeAlternative Spellings & Variations: While Ollie is often a nickname for Olive, Oliver, or Olivia, it’s a fun option by itself. Other spellings include Olie, Oli, Oly, and Olly.Famous Namesakes: One of the most notable people associated with this name was Ollie Johnston, an American motion-picture animator for Disney.Peak Popularity: The most popular year for Ollie was 1902.
Olsen
Origin:Danish, NorwegianMeaning: Son of OlafFamous Namesakes: Olsen is more commonly known as a last name. American actresses and sisters Mary-Kate, Ashley, and Elizabeth Olsen are some of the most famous people bearing the name.Peak Popularity: Olsen remains a relatively unique first name in the U.S.
Omari
Origin:SwahiliMeaning: FlourishingAlternative Spellings & Variations: Omaree, Omareigh, Omarie, OmaryFamous Namesakes: American actor Omari HardwickPeak Popularity: Omari reached the top 1,000 baby boy names in 1980 and has gradually become more popular. Its most popular year was 2018 when it reached No. 471.
Onyx
Origin:Latin, GreekMeaning: Black gemstoneFamous Namesakes: Popular Australian rapper Iggy Azalea named her baby boy Onyx.Peak Popularity: Onyx began to gain popularity in 2018 when it ranked No. 864 for baby boys, and as of 2021, it sat at No. 406.
Oona
Origin:IrishMeaning: LambAlternative Spellings & Variations: Oonagh, OonahFamous Namesakes: Oona King, a former Member of Parliament of the United KingdomPeak Popularity: Oona remains a unique option for baby girls in the U.S.
Opal
Origin:SanskritMeaning: Gem; Precious stoneFamous Namesakes: Fictional character Opal Cortlandt from the soap opera “All My Children,” and American aviator Opal Kunz. Peak Popularity: The most popular year for Opal was 1911, but as of 2021, still remains in the top 1,000 names for baby girls.
Ophelia
Origin:GreekMeaning: Help; HelperAlternative Spellings & Variations:Famous Namesakes: Most notably, Ophelia is the name of the heroine in William Shakespeare’s play “Hamlet.“Peak Popularity: Ophelia is a classic name that was most popular in the year 1900. In 2021, it ranked No. 321 for baby girls.
Oprah
Origin:HebrewMeaning: Fawn; Gazelle; Young deerAlternative Spellings & Variations: OphrahFamous Namesakes: American talk show host, TV producer, actress, author, and philanthropist Oprah Winfrey is the most famous person with this name.Peak Popularity: Even with Oprah Winfrey’s massive popularity, the name Oprah still remains rather unique among baby girls.
Oren
Origin:HebrewMeaning: Ash tree; Pine treeAlternative Spellings & Variations: Orenn, Orin Peak Popularity: The most popular year for Oren was 1903.
Oriana
Origin:Italian, LatinMeaning: Dawn; Sunrise; GoldAlternative Spellings & Variations: Orianna, Oriane, OriannePeak Popularity: Oriana is a unique name for baby girls in the U.S.
Orion
Origin:GreekMeaning: Rising in the skyAlternative Spellings & Variations: Oarien, Oarion, Oarionn, Orien, Orienn, Orionn, Oryan, OryenFamous Namesakes: In Greek mythology, Orion was a giant hunter, and a constellation is named after him.Peak Popularity: The most popular year for Orion was 2018.
Orlando
Origin:ItalianMeaning: Famous land; Glorious landFamous Namesakes: English actor Orlando Bloom is the most well-known person with this name.Peak Popularity: The most popular year for the name Orlando was 1975 when it ranked No. 246 for baby boys.
Orson
Origin:English, LatinMeaning: Bear cubAlternative Spellings & Variations: Oarsen, Oarsin, Oarson, Oarsonn, Oarsyn, Orsen, OrsinFamous Namesakes: The most notable person with this name was American director, actor, screenwriter, and producerOrson Welles.Peak Popularity: The most popular year for Orson was 1901 before it fell out of the top 1,000 baby boy names, making it a unique option today.
Oscar
Origin:Irish GaelicMeaning: Spear of the GodsAlternative Spellings & Variations: OskarFamous Namesakes: American former professional boxer Oscar De La Hoya, Dominican fashion designer Oscar de la Renta, Irish poet Oscar Wilde, American actor Oscar Isaac, and South African runner Oscar PistoriusPeak Popularity: The name Oscar has been on the radar for baby boys for over a century. Its most popular year was 1901 when it ranked No. 47, and in 2021, it remained in the top 500 names at No. 226.
Osiris
Origin:EgyptianMeaning: Powerful; MightyFamous Namesakes: Historically, Osiris was the Egyptian Lord of the Underworld.Peak Popularity: Osiris started gaining popularity in 2020 when it landed in the top 1,000 baby names for boys. In 2021 it sat at No. 948.
Osman
Origin:Scandanavian, TurkishMeaning: The meaning of Osman varies from “God’s protection” to “young snake.“Famous Namesakes: Osman I, founder of the Ottoman dynastyPeak Popularity: The most popular year for Osman was 2019 which, so far, is the only year it has appeared in the top 1,000 names for baby boys.
Otis
Origin:GermanMeaning: Wealth; WealthyFamous Namesakes: American singer-songwriter Otis Redding and American inventor Otis BoykinPeak Popularity: Otis has remained a solid contender for baby boys since the early 1900s, with its most popular year being 1909.
Otto
Origin:GermanMeaning: Wealth; FortuneFamous Namesakes: Otto the Great, founder of the Holy Roman EmpirePeak Popularity: The most popular year for Otto was 1902, but remains moderately popular today. In 2021 it ranked No. 336 for baby boys.
Owen
Origin:Irish, Welsh Meaning: Noble; Youthful; Well-born Alternative Spellings & Variations: Eowyn, Owena Famous Namesakes: American actor Owen Wilson and late Canadian professional wrestler Owen Hart Peak Popularity: Owen has gained a lot of popularity since the early 2000s, and its most popular year was 2019 when it ranked No. 21 for baby boys.
Ozias
Origin:Greek, HebrewMeaning: Salvation; God is strengthPeak Popularity: Ozias remains a unique option in the U.S., most commonly for baby boys.
Ozzy
Origin:English, GermanMeaning: God’s powerAlternative Spellings & Variations: OzzieFamous Namesakes: English rock singer and TV personality Ozzy Osborne, Curaçaoan professional baseball player Ozzie Albies, and American reality TV star Ozzy LusthPeak Popularity: The most popular year for Ozzy was 2019, when it finally landed in the top 1,000 names for baby boys.
