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Odessia

♀ Girl

Pronounced oh-DES-ee-uh /oʊˈdɛsiə/Medium

Meaning: Odessia is an elaborated form of Odessa, the name of the Black Sea port, which was given its classicized name after the ancient Greek settlement Odessos. As a first name it functions as an evocative place-name; the -ia ending softens Odessa into a more overtly feminine shape. The meaning is geographic rather than a literal word.Low

In 30 seconds: Odessia is a place-inspired girl's name from Odessa, the Black Sea city named after ancient Greek Odessos (said oh-DES-ee-uh).

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Origin LowGreek, English

MeaningOdessia is an elaborated form of Odessa, the name of the Black Sea port, which was given its classicized name after the ancient Greek settlement Odessos. As a first name it functions as an evocative place-name; the -ia ending softens Odessa into a more overtly feminine shape. The meaning is geographic rather than a literal word.

U.S. rank (1975)#10118 ↘ Falling

1975 U.S. births5 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)

Peak year1922

Total births (all-time)≈ 601

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Odessia is an ornamental extension of Odessa, a place-name that American families adopted for daughters much as they used Florence or Veneta. The city's name looks back to the ancient Greek Odessos, and the -ia ending gives the whole a lyrical lift.

It stayed rare, reaching only a couple dozen girls a year around 1922 before fading. An Odessia from that era belongs to a great-grandmother's generation now, and the name keeps a romantic, far-off-places charm.

Did you know? Odessia echoes Odessa, whose classical name recalls the ancient Greek settlement of Odessos on the Black Sea.

Overall data confidence 50%

References - Odessia — Elaboration of Odessa; Greek Odessos place-name

Variations

OdessaOdessieOdetta

Nicknames

OdieDessie

Famous Bearers

Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Odessia…

Odessa— the place-name Odessia elaborates

Odelia— another soft O- name of the era

Ottilie— a comparably ornate vintage choice

Ophelia— a similarly popular pick

Olympia— shares Odessia's Greek roots

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Odessia mean?

It's an elaborated place-name from Odessa, the Black Sea city named after Greek Odessos.

How do you pronounce Odessia?

It's said oh-DES-ee-uh /oʊˈdɛsiə/, four syllables, stress on the second.

Is Odessia a boy or girl name?

Odessia is used as a girl's name.

Is Odessia a popular name?

No, it was always rare, a place-inspired name seen only faintly in the early twentieth century.