Fun Facts About the Name Obelia
- 77 babies named Obelia: U.S. records list 77 babies given the name Obelia from 1880 through 2025.
What Does the Name Obelia Mean?
Obelia is a feminine name of Greek origin. It is usually derived from the Greek noun ὀβελός (obelos), which means "spit" or "pointed pillar," with the feminine ending -ia. The related diminutive ὀβελίσκος (obeliskos) is the source of English obelisk. The literal sense is tied to a pointed object, such as a roasting spit or a pillar, and the customary short meaning given for the name is "pointed pillar." Some modern name lists give "needle," which reflects the same root rather than a separate origin. The exact path from the Greek noun to a personal name is not documented, so the derivation is probable rather than certain.
Obelia Name History & Origins
Obelia is formed from a Greek root with the feminine suffix -ia. The root obel- appears in Greek ὀβελός (obelos), a word for a spit or pointed pillar, and in ὀβελίσκος (obeliskos), the diminutive that became English obelisk. In the early 19th century, naturalists adopted Obelia as a genus name for a group of marine hydroids; that scientific use comes from the same Greek root but is separate from the personal name. As a given name, Obelia appears in modern name books as a Greek-derived feminine name. The similar-looking Ophelia is not related; it comes from a different Greek root.
How Popular is the Name Obelia?
Obelia has historically been an exceptionally rare given name in the United States, remaining well outside the national mainstream. It saw its highest recorded annual births in 1918. Its best rank was #2,160 in 1909.
U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1943 | #5,182 | 5 | 0.0004% |
| 1931 | #4,219 | 6 | 0.0006% |
| 1928 | #4,580 | 6 | 0.0005% |
| 1927 | #5,398 | 5 | 0.0004% |
| 1925 | #4,819 | 6 | 0.0005% |
| 1924 | #4,892 | 6 | 0.0005% |
| 1919 | #5,366 | 5 | 0.0004% |
| 1918 | #2,635 | 13 | 0.0011% |
| 1917 | #4,461 | 6 | 0.0006% |
| 1916 | #4,963 | 5 | 0.0005% |
| 1914 | #2,809 | 8 | 0.0011% |
| 1909 | #2,160 | 6 | 0.0017% |
Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.
Most Popular Girl Names That Start with O
How the Name Obelia Shapes Your Personality and Life?
You are patient, persevering and strong willed. You are a good student, absorbing knowledge easily and retaining it well. You are either a saint or a sinner. You tend to hold things inside and suffer in silence. You are frank, methodical and believe in law, system and order.
Position and social status is very important for you and you are always looking for way to improve your position in society. You have power and ability to chose your own destiny and achieve anything you want in life. You can expand in any direction according to your will and the set of values. You have passion for justice and belong to the position of authority. You have an inherent courage and endurance to accomplish "The Impossible Dream". With the power comes responsibility. You hold keys to the material world, but with this gift comes high spiritual responsibility to be fair and true to others. You are philosophical and mature, determined and intense with a desire to endure, often religious.
✦ Obelia's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Obelia's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.