Meaning of the name Ophelia: origin, character, fate and secret of the name Ophelia

Origin of the name Ophelia

The name Ophelia has an unusual literary origin story. It was invented by the Neapolitan poet Jacopo Sannazzaro more than 5 centuries ago, combining two Greek roots – “Ote” and “Lia”. Ophelia was the name of one of the heroines of his poem “Arcadia”.

Most of us know the name Ophelia from another literary work – Shakespeare’s Hamlet. However, few people know that the tragic storyline with Ophelia has real historical roots. The inspiration was the story of a young English woman who was swept away by the waters of the River Avon in 1579.

The image of Lady Ophelia, created by Shakespeare, served as a source of inspiration for many subsequent generations of creators in various genres. For example, the mysterious story of Ophelia was reflected in the paintings of artists John Everett Millais (1852), Alexandre Cabanel (1883) and John William Waterhouse (1910). The fragile image of Ophelia has inspired many modern poets and musicians: the song of the same name “Ophelia” is by Egor Letov, Irina Bogushevskaya, Emily Autumn and the group “Nastya”.

Also, an asteroid discovered in 1877 was named in honor of Ophelia, and one of the moons of Uranus was named in 1986.

Meaning and characteristics of the name Ophelia

From early childhood, Ophelia has been strongly attached to her parents; she is in dire need of constant support, approval and protection. She is reluctant to communicate with her peers, avoiding unnecessary fuss and conflicts, prefers to play alone, and lives “in her own little world.” To avoid problems with socialization, parents should gradually, gently and non-judgmentally teach Ophelia to communicate and interact with other children.

As a teenager, Ophelia may be prone to apathy and depression. She feels acutely the injustice or rudeness of other people, takes criticism close to her heart, and is often very whiny. Unlike most of her peers, Ophelia prefers to spend time at home, with her family.

Ophelia is often capricious and childish. Despite her softness and meekness of character, she easily achieves what she wants, quietly manipulating people.

“It is very difficult for the homely girl Ophelia to make important decisions; she often follows the path of least resistance and does not like to bear responsibility. Ophelia is not a career woman. She would rather prefer calm, uncomplicated and measured subordinate work than a promising leadership position.

In relationships with the opposite sex, Ophelia is a woman-muse. Her beauty, femininity and vulnerability attract men. Sometimes Ophelia can be flighty, changing suitors like gloves, but having fallen in love, she remains faithful to her chosen one. In relationships, Ophelia seeks protection and support, often idealizing her companion.

Due to her infantile character traits, it is difficult to imagine Ophelia as an easy-going housewife with a bunch of kids. But she is in no hurry to change her way of life until she is mentally ready to start a family and have children. But when this happens, her home will undoubtedly be a cozy “safe haven” and a “full cup.”