Fun Facts About the Name Odessey
- 25 babies named Odessey: U.S. records list 25 babies given the name Odessey from 1880 through 2025.
What Does the Name Odessey Mean?
Odessey is an English respelling of Odyssey, a word borrowed from Greek Ὀδύσσεια (Odysseia) through Latin Odyssea. In English, odyssey means a long wandering journey or series of adventures. That sense comes from the story of Odysseus's travels, not from a securely known literal meaning of the hero's name. The etymology of Odysseus is uncertain; ancient Greek tradition connected it with ὀδύσσομαι (odyssomai), "to hate" or "to be angry with," but that explanation is a traditional wordplay rather than a settled derivation.
Odessey Name History & Origins
The English word Odyssey comes from the title of the Greek epic Ὀδύσσεια, attributed to Homer. The Greek title names the poem by its hero, Ὀδυσσεύς (Odysseus); Latin rendered it as Odyssea, and English Odyssey developed from that form. The poem's account of Odysseus's ten-year return from Troy gave English the common noun odyssey, a long journey or series of adventures.
Odessey is a nonstandard spelling of that English word. As a given name it is a respelled word name rather than a traditional inherited personal name; its written form follows Odyssey but changes the vowel in the second syllable.
How Popular is the Name Odessey?
Odessey 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 2000. Its best rank was #10,511 in 2000.
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 | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | #17,415 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2000 | #10,511 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1997 | #13,279 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1996 | #15,192 | 5 | 0.0003% |
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 Odessey 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.
You are always looking for an opportunity to achieve financial and emotional security. You are basically peacemaker. You understand the law of harmony and desire to balance your life with those around you. You may feel incomplete without someone to share your love, ideals, wealth or work. You can be very sensitive and could appear a bit shy and perceptive. You have developed intuition, patience and the ability to nurture others. You can achieve the state of happiness if you are willing to accept your needs in a complimentary relationship and go to create them.
✦ Odessey's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Odessey's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.