Orpah

♀ Girl

Pronounced OR-pah /ˈɔr.pɑ/Medium

Meaning: Orpah is a biblical Hebrew name, borne by the Moabite woman who was sister-in-law to Ruth in the Book of Ruth. It is traditionally connected to the Hebrew word for the 'back' or 'nape of the neck' - because she turned back rather than follow Naomi - and is also linked to a word for a 'fawn' or young deer.Low

In 30 seconds: Orpah is a biblical Hebrew girl's name (said OR-pah), the sister-in-law of Ruth, traditionally read as 'nape of the neck' or 'fawn.' It appeared in the early twentieth century.

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Origin MediumHebrew

MeaningOrpah is a biblical Hebrew name, borne by the Moabite woman who was sister-in-law to Ruth in the Book of Ruth. It is traditionally connected to the Hebrew word for the 'back' or 'nape of the neck' - because she turned back rather than follow Naomi - and is also linked to a word for a 'fawn' or young deer.

U.S. rank (1950)#5899 ↘ Falling

1950 U.S. births5 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)

Peak year1923

Total births (all-time)≈ 107

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

Orpah comes from the Book of Ruth, the name of Ruth's Moabite sister-in-law, who kissed Naomi goodbye and returned to her own people. Jewish tradition links it to the Hebrew for the 'back of the neck' (from that turning away) and also to a word for a 'fawn.' It saw quiet American use among Bible-reading families.

Records show Orpah mainly from the turn of the twentieth century into the nineteen-twenties, given to only about fifteen girls a year at its peak and never common. A girl named Orpah then would belong to a great-grandparent's or earlier generation today.

Did you know? The talk-show name Oprah began as Orpah: Oprah Winfrey was named for Ruth's sister-in-law, but the biblical spelling was transposed on her records and the misspelling stuck.

Overall data confidence 50%

References - Orpah — Biblical Hebrew; Book of Ruth; 'nape of the neck'/'fawn'; Oprah Winfrey named for Orpah (transposed); plain-Latin only.

Variations

OrpaOrphaOrphah

Nicknames

OrriePah

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If you like Orpah…

Ruth— the sister-in-law of Orpah in scripture

Naomi— the mother-in-law both women knew

Delilah— a like biblical girl's name

Keziah— another vintage Hebrew scriptural name

Explore names like Orpah

By themevintage hebrew biblical scriptural

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Orpah mean?

Orpah is biblical Hebrew, the name of Ruth's sister-in-law, traditionally read as 'nape of the neck' or 'fawn, young deer.'

How do you pronounce Orpah?

It is said OR-pah /ˈɔr.pɑ/ - two syllables, stress on the first.

Is Orpah a boy or girl name?

Orpah is used as a girl's name.

How popular is Orpah?

It was always rare in the United States, given to only about fifteen girls a year even at its peak in the early nineteen-twenties.