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At a Glance: Name: Odessa – Origin: Greek place name (of uncertain/pre-Greek origin) – Gender: Girl – Pronunciation: oh-DESS-ah
Odessa is a girl's name traced to a Greek place name, though its exact meaning is uncertain — even scholars trace it only to a pre-Greek root. You may see a claim that it comes from a Greek word for 'to be angry,' but that's not accurate: the similar-sounding Greek word ὀδούς (odous) actually means 'tooth,' and the true origin of the placename Odessa/Odessos remains unknown. It's pronounced oh-DESS-ah.
Meaning & Origin of Odessa
Origin: Greek place name (of uncertain/pre-Greek origin).
A common claim: sometimes said to derive from a Greek word meaning 'to be angry/furious' Actually: Not accurate — the Greek word ὀδούς (odous) actually means 'tooth', not 'anger'; the real origin of the placename Odessa/Odessos is unknown, not a genuine 'anger' etymology.
Source: Wiktionary, Wikipedia.
How to Pronounce Odessa
Phonetic: oh-DESS-ah IPA: /oʊˈdɛsə/
Popularity of Odessa
Odessa peaked at #278 in 1908 with 162 babies given the name, and by 2024 it had fallen to #1583 with just 133, based on U.S. birth records spanning 1880 to 2024.
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration birth-name data, 1880–2024.
Make Odessa Name Art
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Names With a Similar Story
Derived from shared style, era, and origin data (or, for names we have no style data for, a similar Social Security popularity trajectory) — not a hand-picked list.
FAQ
What does the name Odessa mean?
sometimes said to derive from a Greek word meaning ‘to be angry/furious’ Not accurate — the Greek word ὀδούς (odous) actually means ‘tooth’, not ‘anger’; the real origin of the placename Odessa/Odessos is unknown, not a genuine ‘anger’ etymology.
How do you pronounce Odessa?
Odessa is pronounced oh-DESS-ah (IPA: /oʊˈdɛsə/).
Is Odessa a popular name right now?
Odessa peaked at #278 in 1908 and is ranked #1583 as of 2024. (U.S. Social Security Administration data, 1880–2024.)
📊 How popular is Odessa? See the full popularity history, trend data, and ranking since 1880 with our free Baby Name Popularity Checker.
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