עָרְפָּה

Orpah

girlHebrewJewishChristian

Orpah is a Jewish girl name of Hebrew origin, meaning “Back of the neck; possibly fawn”.

MeaningBack of the neck; possibly fawn
GenderGirl
OriginHebrew
Written asעָרְפָּה
PronunciationOR-pah
TraditionJewish, Christian
Used inUnited States

Meaning and origin of Orpah

Orpah is a figure in the Book of Ruth, the Moabite daughter-in-law of Naomi who, unlike Ruth, returned to her own people. The name is usually linked to the Hebrew oref, 'back of the neck', a fitting image for someone who turned back, though some connect it to words for 'fawn' or 'cloud'. Oprah Winfrey's name was meant to be Orpah, but it was misspelled on her birth record.

Is Orpah a Jewish name?

Orpah is a biblical name from Ruth 1, where she kisses Naomi goodbye; she is a minor figure, so the name is rarely chosen by Jewish families.

How popular is Orpah?

Rare as a baby name today.

Gifts with the name Orpah

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Spellings and variants of Orpah

OrpaOprah

Names similar to Orpah

More Jewish girl names

Frequently asked questions

What does the name Orpah mean?

Orpah means 'Back of the neck; possibly fawn'. It is of Hebrew origin.

Is Orpah a Jewish name?

Orpah is a biblical name from Ruth 1, where she kisses Naomi goodbye; she is a minor figure, so the name is rarely chosen by Jewish families.

How do you pronounce Orpah?

Orpah is pronounced OR-pah.

Is Orpah a boy or girl name?

Orpah is usually a girl name.

Updated October 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.