Girl Names That Start with O

O names for girls are relatively rare, which gives them a distinctive, memorable quality. Olivia is the best known, a name used by Shakespeare in Twelfth Night and linked to the olive tree, a symbol of peace. Olive is its simpler, vintage-feeling relative. Ophelia is the tragic heroine of Hamlet, and Ofelia is its Spanish form. Octavia comes from a Latin word for eighth and was carried by women of ancient Rome.

The letter also includes a lively group of nature names. Oaklynn, Oaklyn, Oaklee and Oakleigh all draw on the oak tree, a symbol of strength, and show how parents like to shape nature words into new names. Opal is a gemstone known for its shifting colors. Odette is the swan princess of the ballet Swan Lake, and Oriana is often linked to words for gold or dawn. Odessa takes its name from the port city on the Black Sea, and Olga is a Slavic name with Norse roots. Olyvia is a modern spelling of Olivia.

Because these names begin with a rounded vowel, they can blend with surnames that also start with a vowel. Spelling is a consideration for the oak-based names, which come in many versions, so decide early which one you prefer and say the full name aloud with your surname.