Orpha

♀ Girl

Pronounced OR-fuh /ˈɔːr.fə/High

Meaning: A variant of Orpah, the sister-in-law of Ruth in the Book of Ruth. Her name is usually traced to the Hebrew oreph, 'back of the neck', and read as 'she who turns her back' — because, unlike Ruth, Orpah turns back to her own people. The reading is traditional rather than certain, and the story is told without blame in the text; we note it honestly.Low

In 30 seconds: Orpha comes from the biblical Orpah, Ruth's sister-in-law — a name traditionally read as 'she who turns away' (said 'OR-fuh').

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Origin MediumHebrew, English

MeaningA variant of Orpah, the sister-in-law of Ruth in the Book of Ruth. Her name is usually traced to the Hebrew oreph, 'back of the neck', and read as 'she who turns her back' — because, unlike Ruth, Orpah turns back to her own people. The reading is traditional rather than certain, and the story is told without blame in the text; we note it honestly.

U.S. rank (2024)#14796 ↗ Rising

2024 U.S. births6 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)

Peak year1917

Total births (all-time)≈ 5,969

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

Orpha is a variant of the biblical Orpah, sister-in-law to Ruth in the Book of Ruth. Her name is traditionally traced to the Hebrew oreph, 'back of the neck', and glossed 'she who turns her back' — because Orpah takes Naomi's advice and returns home to Moab while Ruth stays. That reading is traditional rather than certain, and the biblical text itself treats Orpah kindly; we note both plainly. The name was used by English-speaking families in the nineteenth century (said 'OR-fuh').

It appears only rarely in U.S. records now. Rare, biblical, and old-fashioned.

Did you know? Orpah is the other daughter-in-law in the Book of Ruth — the one who returns to her own people while Ruth stays. The text does not condemn her, and neither do we.

Overall data confidence 45%

References — Orpha — variant of biblical Orpah (Book of Ruth); etymology traditional, not certain

Variations

OrpahOrphieOrpa

Nicknames

OrphieFee

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If you like Orpha…

Ruth— her sister-in-law in the story

Naomi— the mother-in-law of both

Martha— a like biblical vintage pick

Isha— a fellow Hebrew choice

Micha— shares the -ha ending

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Orpha mean?

Orpha comes from the biblical Orpah, traditionally traced to the Hebrew oreph ('back of the neck') and read as 'she who turns away'. That reading is traditional rather than certain, which we note.

How do you pronounce Orpha?

It's said OR-fuh /ˈɔːr.fə/ — two syllables, stress on the first.

Is Orpha a boy or girl name?

Orpha is used as a girl's name.

How popular is Orpha?

Orpha is rare in the U.S. today, though it was used more in earlier generations.