What does Odessa mean?

The name "Odessa" is an elegant and distinctive choice, carrying historical, geographical, and mythological associations. It originates from the Ukrainian port city of Odesa, a name chosen by Russian Empress Catherine the Great.

This choice was influenced by Homer's epic poem, "The Odyssey," cementing Odessa's connection to the realm of Greek mythology.

Indeed, the name is forever linked to the legendary Greek hero, Odysseus, King of Ithaca, celebrated for his strength, resourcefulness, and endurance in the face of adversity.

The Greek term "odussomai," meaning "to become angry," and the interpretation of Odysseus as "one who receives pain," both add layers of complexity to the name's meaning, suggesting a certain resilience and strength of character.

Despite its rarity today, Odessa was more popular in the U.S.

in the past, ranking in the Top 1000 names every year from 1880 through 1956. However, anti-Russian sentiment during the Cold War led to a decline in its use. Notable bearers of the name include the daughter of actor Michael Chiklis, adding a contemporary touch to its long history.

In essence, the name Odessa is intriguing and layered, rich with historical references and mythological undertones.

It represents an original choice for parents seeking a name imbued with strength, resilience, and a touch of the epic.

How do I pronounce Odessa?

Two syllabled Odessa is most commonly pronounced as o-dessa. od(es)-sa is another way(s) to say the name.

Names that rhyme with Odessa

How popular is the name Odessa?

A common name in United States with over 17779 new-borns have been given the name since 1880. The name is current favorite of the parents, in 1908, it ranked 278th when 464 parents chose the moniker for their baby girls.

Additionally, the given name has been in Odessa is an uncommon baby name in England and Wales where it is still in use. In France, it has been in use since 1982 but could not make beyond the top 2000.

Over 352 babies in France have been named Odessa.

Odessa is a common name in Philippines while somewhat familiar name in Guyana, Canada, Brazil and South Africa. At least, 10000 people globally have been given the name as per our evaluation.

Year	Boys		Girls
	Rank	Births	Rank	Births
2023	0	0	1845	108
2022	0	0	1786	114
2021	0	0	1652	125
2020	0	0	1588	131
2019	0	0	1742	118
2018	0	0	1806	112
2017	0	0	1986	99
2016	0	0	2339	80
2015	0	0	2427	75
2014	0	0	2807	61

View more ▾View full list ▾^{[1] Source: Social Security Administration}

Facts

Odessa in Nordic countries

Countries	Men		Women
	First Name	Secondary Name	First Name	Secondary Name
	5	5	72	42
	0	0	0	384
	5	5	23	20
	5	5	5	6
	5	0	6	0

Numerological analysis of Odessa

It's far better than righting wrongs that can't be undone or fixed. You don't want to live an ordinary life and be remembered as some other folk who lived and died for nothing. You like to take safe risks. You like to go back to your past and fix your mistakes in your head. When it comes to love, you are a passionate lover but hard to commit. Wait until you find the right one. Instead of living inside a box and enjoying your comfort zone, you prefer challenging yourself.

Go through the following names similar to Odessa

•  Sofia means Wisdom, Will or Beautiful is used in Swedish and Finnish has its roots in Old Greek is used as a gender-neutral name
•  Kaytlin - Unexpected Kaytlin mainly is used in English has its origin in Old Greek bestowed upon baby girls, meaning of Kaytlin is "Torture or Pure"
•  Loisa means Famous or Pleasing is rooted from Old Greek and English which is specifically used in Swedish and Danish is used as a girl name
•  Synesius - Boy name Synesius came from Greek. Synesius is form of Συνέσιος, a Greek Name Deriving from Σύνεσις = Understanding, Insight, Intelligence in Latin language
•  Iride - Predominantly used in Italian, Iride means "Rainbow" which originated from Old Greek is a girl name

•  Veronika
•  Eleonora
•  Dmitri
•  Océan
•  Melenie

•  Odeline
•  Galatya
•  Zhora
•  Gretal
•  Ledah

Famous people named Odessa

• Odessa Piper, American restaurateur and chef
• Odessa Cleveland, American film and television actress
• Odessa Grady Clay, mother of three-time World Heavyweight Champion Muhammad Ali and Rahman Ali
• Odessa Turner, former professional American football wide receiver
• Odessa Whitmire in The Man Who Wasn't There as Miscellaneous Crew
• Odessa Chiklis in Aussie and Ted's Great Adventure as Actress
• Odessa Sykes in Now You See Me as Actress
• Odessa Munroe in Final Destination 2 as Actress
• Odessa Young in Blood Pulls a Gun as Actress
• Odessa Rae in Hard Candy as Actress

Lists having Odessa

• Boys names beginning with O
• Girls names beginning with O
• American Baby Names
• English Baby Names
• Greek Baby Names
• Danish Baby Names
• Finnish Baby Names
• Norwegian Baby Names
• Swedish Baby Names
• Girl names that ends with -essa

Sources

1. Social Security Administration, https://www.ssa.gov/oact/babynames/index.html
2. Office for National Statistics, https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/birthsdeathsandmarriages/livebirths
3. Institut national de la statistique et des études économiques, https://www.insee.fr/fr/statistiques/2540004