Odessa Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
The name Odessa has Greek origins, stemming from the ancient city of Odessos, which means 'a place of sitting or dwelling'. It has evolved through history, notably gaining significance in the 19th century as a prominent port city. While there are variants of the name, Odessa remains a symbol of cultural richness and diversity, without direct biblical relevance.
The name Odessa is most popular in Mississippi, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Girl name among the G.I. Generation generation in the South region. Recent 3-year trends show this Boy name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. Recent 3-year trends show this Girl name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. From 2020-2022, Odessa has been falling for female in MidWest, stalled for female in Northeast, falling for female in South, stalled for female in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been stalled for female in MidWest, stalled for female in Northeast, stalled for female in South, stalled for female in West. Across generations, 'Odessa' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 3402nd out of 7545 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 4794th out of 6773 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 6135th out of 7552 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 14347th out of 16616 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 22675th out of 24088 names. Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 311th out of 9107 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 458th out of 9204 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 936th out of 12526 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 1793rd out of 19264 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 2606th out of 27321 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 3024th out of 35406 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 1978th out of 30306 names. Discover how the name 'Odessa' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Odessa"
Pronunciation
/əˈdɛsə/
Origin
Greek
Etymology
The name Odessa is believed to be derived from the ancient Greek city of Odessos, which may have originated from the Thracian word for 'to sit' or 'to dwell'.
Meaning
A place of sitting or dwelling.
Language Evolution
Odessos (ancient Greek), Odessa (modern English)
Historical Usage
Odessa gained popularity in the 19th century when it became a significant port city in the Russian Empire and an important cultural center.
Variants & Derivatives
Odesa, Odessia
Modern Popularity & Image
Today, Odessa is perceived as a vibrant, multicultural city known for its historical architecture and rich cultural scene.
Famous People
Isaac Babel, Anna Akhmatova, Sergei Eisenstein
Explore More Odessa Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Odessa"
Note: Years with identical rankings may represent different numbers of births. Data is sourced from Social Security card applications for births in the United States.
Yearly Ranking History of "Odessa"
"Odessa" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Boy | 3402nd of 7545 | 94 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Boy | 4794th of 6773 | 29 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Boy | 6135th of 7552 | 15 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Boy | 14347th of 16616 | 10 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Boy | 22675th of 24088 | 6 |
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Girl | 311th of 9107 | 7,629 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Girl | 458th of 9204 | 4,179 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Girl | 936th of 12526 | 2,202 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Girl | 1793rd of 19264 | 826 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Girl | 2606th of 27321 | 693 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Girl | 3024th of 35406 | 833 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Girl | 1978th of 30306 | 1,207 |
Regional Popularity of "Odessa" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - | - | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- | - | - | - |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
Regional Popularity of "Odessa" by Generation for Female Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
41.10% 582nd/1416 |
49.24% 679th/1379 |
8.54% 202nd/2366 |
100.00% 1142nd/1142 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
47.67% 737th/1546 |
52.31% 814th/1556 |
13.00% 306th/2353 |
- |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
54.92% 1223rd/2227 |
51.03% 1240th/2430 |
21.14% 603rd/2853 |
66.56% 1847th/2775 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
72.18% 2120th/2937 |
52.37% 1824th/3483 |
54.21% 1907th/3518 |
54.82% 2217th/4044 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
95.17% 3507th/3685 |
59.66% 2670th/4475 |
77.76% 4039th/5194 |
51.75% 3269th/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
65.02% 2979th/4582 |
57.22% 2955th/5164 |
83.69% 6120th/7313 |
35.63% 2659th/7463 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
43.50% 1733rd/3984 |
48.74% 2187th/4487 |
43.73% 2983rd/6822 |
25.65% 1610th/6276 |
State-by-State Popularity of "Odessa"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Odessa" across states, calculated by dividing the number of births with this name in each state by the total births in that state. This methodology provides a standardized measure of popularity regardless of state population size.