Opal: Name Meaning, Origin, Popularity, and More

Fact: The Opal gemstone, where the name is inspired, serves as the birthstone for October.

Opal Overview

Meaning

Jewel, precious stone

Gender

Girl

Origin

Sanskrit

Etymology

The name was later adopted into Latin as “opalus” and then into Old French as “opale” before transitioning to Opal.

Pronunciation

/ˈoʊ.pəl/

Popularity

The name Opan has been climbing its rank in popularity constantly, reaching the #488 position of popular girl names in the US.

Syllable

2 syllables

Length

4 letters

Numerology

8 (Practical, Ambitious, Materialistic)

Name Styles

Vintage, Unique, Earthy

Associated Traits

Unique, elegant, precious, vibrant, and creative.

Name Day

October 1st

Opal Variations in Different Cultures

Popular Variations

Opaline, Opala, Opall, Opalla, Opaleigh, Opel, Opella, Ophela, Opil, Opelle

Common Nicknames

O, Opie, Opa, Opie, Ollie, Pally, Polly, Lia, Lala, Ella

Diminutives

O, Opie, Opa

Famous People

Opal Kunz
(American Aviator)
Opal Palmer Adisa
(Jamaican-American Writer)
Opal Tometi
(American Activist)

Pop Culture Icons and Works

Opal
("Because of Winn-Dixie," Book)
Opal
("The Opal Deception," Book)
Opal
("Opal," Song)

Places

Opal Community
(Virginia, USA)
Opal Creek Wilderness Area
(Oregon, USA)
Opal Lake
(Colorado, USA)
Opal Town
(Wyoming, USA)

What Is the Meaning of Opal?

The name Opal means “precious stone” or “jewel.” Opals are gemstones known for their vibrant play of colors and are often associated with beauty and rarity.

What Is the Origin of The Name Opal?

Opal is of Sanskrit origin, derived from the word “upala,” which means “precious stone” or “gem.”

Opal Name Popularity

Popularity Chart of the Name Opal in the U.S. over the Years

United States	#5452021	#5252022	#4882023
Top 3 Rankings	#811911	#821909	#841908

Annual Statistics Breakdown for Opal

Year	Name Ranking	Number of Births	Birth Rate (%)
2023	488 (+37 from 2022)	624 (+31 from 2022)	0.03567
2022	525 (+20 from 2021)	593 (+32 from 2021)	0.03307
2021	545 (+104 from 2020)	561 (+117 from 2020)	0.03131
2020	649 (+28 from 2019)	444 (+17 from 2019)	0.02512
2019	677 (+132 from 2018)	427 (+91 from 2018)	0.02327
2018	809 (+37 from 2017)	336 (+15 from 2017)	0.01807
2017	846 (+166 from 2016)	321 (+60 from 2016)	0.01699
2016	1012 (+98 from 2015)	261 (+28 from 2015)	0.01348
2015	1110 (+190 from 2014)	233 (+50 from 2014)	0.01194
2014	1300 (+382 from 2013)	183 (+58 from 2013)	0.00935
2013	1682 (+222 from 2012)	125 (+20 from 2012)	0.00648
2012	1904 (+169 from 2011)	105 (+12 from 2011)	0.00541
2011	2073 (+240 from 2010)	93 (+11 from 2010)	0.00480
2010	2313 (+152 from 2009)	82 (+5 from 2009)	0.00418
2009	2465 (-212 from 2008)	77 (-10 from 2008)	0.00380
2008	2253 (+394 from 2007)	87 (+18 from 2007)	0.00418
2007	2647 (-273 from 2006)	69 (-10 from 2006)	0.00326
2006	2374 (+1134 from 2005)	79 (+37 from 2005)	0.00378
2005	3508 (-798 from 2004)	42 (-18 from 2004)	0.00207
2004	2710 (+878 from 2003)	60 (+21 from 2003)	0.00297
2003	3588 (-65 from 2002)	39 (+1 from 2002)	0.00194
2002	3523 (+107 from 2001)	38 (+2 from 2001)	0.00192
2001	3630 (+255 from 2000)	36 (+4 from 2000)	0.00182
2000	3885 (+691 from 1999)	32 (+8 from 1999)	0.00160
1999	4576 (-1404 from 1998)	24 (-15 from 1998)	0.00123
1998	3172 (+130 from 1997)	39 (+4 from 1997)	0.00201
1997	3302 (+639 from 1996)	35 (+8 from 1996)	0.00183
1996	3941 (+905 from 1995)	27 (+7 from 1995)	0.00141
1995	4846 (-1142 from 1994)	20 (-9 from 1994)	0.00104
1994	3704 (-414 from 1993)	29 (-5 from 1993)	0.00149
1993	3290 (+390 from 1992)	34 (+5 from 1992)	0.00172
1992	3680 (-238 from 1991)	29 (-2 from 1991)	0.00145
1991	3442 (-364 from 1990)	31 (-5 from 1990)	0.00152
1990	3078 (-147 from 1989)	36 (-1 from 1989)	0.00175
1989	2931 (-638 from 1988)	37 (-11 from 1988)	0.00186
1988	2293 (-228 from 1987)	48 (-5 from 1987)	0.00250
1987	2065 (-84 from 1986)	53 (-2 from 1986)	0.00283
1986	1981 (+156 from 1985)	55 (+6 from 1985)	0.00298
1985	2137 (-87 from 1984)	49 No change from 1984	0.00265
1984	2050 (-90 from 1983)	49 (-3 from 1983)	0.00272
1983	1960 (-60 from 1982)	52 (-4 from 1982)	0.00291
1982	1900 (-133 from 1981)	56 (-7 from 1981)	0.00309
1981	1767 (-32 from 1980)	63 (-1 from 1980)	0.00352
1980	1735 (-232 from 1979)	64 (-14 from 1979)	0.00359
1979	1503 (+55 from 1978)	78 (+8 from 1978)	0.00453
1978	1558 (+79 from 1977)	70 (+6 from 1977)	0.00426
1977	1637 (-321 from 1976)	64 (-18 from 1976)	0.00389
1976	1316 (+228 from 1975)	82 (+17 from 1975)	0.00522
1975	1544 (-145 from 1974)	65 (-8 from 1974)	0.00416
1974	1399 (+97 from 1973)	73 (+10 from 1973)	0.00466
1973	1496 (-6 from 1972)	63 (-1 from 1972)	0.00405
1972	1490 (-154 from 1971)	64 (-16 from 1971)	0.00397
1971	1336 (+181 from 1970)	80 (+15 from 1970)	0.00456
1970	1517 (-162 from 1969)	65 (-6 from 1969)	0.00355
1969	1355 (-76 from 1968)	71 (-3 from 1968)	0.00403
1968	1279 (-40 from 1967)	74 No change from 1967	0.00433
1967	1239 (+35 from 1966)	74 (+2 from 1966)	0.00431
1966	1274 (-140 from 1965)	72 (-15 from 1965)	0.00410
1965	1134 (+38 from 1964)	87 (-1 from 1964)	0.00476
1964	1172 (-68 from 1963)	88 (-9 from 1963)	0.00450
1963	1104 (-13 from 1962)	97 (-2 from 1962)	0.00488
1962	1091 (-2 from 1961)	99 (-2 from 1961)	0.00488
1961	1089 (-174 from 1960)	101 (-33 from 1960)	0.00486
1960	915 (+56 from 1959)	134 (+16 from 1959)	0.00644
1959	971 (+2 from 1958)	118 (+5 from 1958)	0.00568
1958	973 (-161 from 1957)	113 (-42 from 1957)	0.00547
1957	812 (-6 from 1956)	155 (+3 from 1956)	0.00739
1956	806 (-119 from 1955)	152 (-34 from 1955)	0.00738
1955	687 (+21 from 1954)	186 (+16 from 1954)	0.00928
1954	708 (-65 from 1953)	170 (-23 from 1953)	0.00854
1953	643 (-22 from 1952)	193 (-8 from 1952)	0.01000
1952	621 (-41 from 1951)	201 (-16 from 1951)	0.01057
1951	580 (+4 from 1950)	217 (+10 from 1950)	0.01175
1950	584 (-97 from 1949)	207 (-64 from 1949)	0.01177
1949	487 (+20 from 1948)	271 (+11 from 1948)	0.01544
1948	507 (-76 from 1947)	260 (-96 from 1947)	0.01492
1947	431 (-7 from 1946)	356 (+26 from 1946)	0.01958
1946	424 (-41 from 1945)	330 (-7 from 1945)	0.02046
1945	383 (-40 from 1944)	337 (-63 from 1944)	0.02504
1944	343 (-2 from 1943)	400 (-36 from 1943)	0.02927
1943	341 (-14 from 1942)	436 (-11 from 1942)	0.03037
1942	327 (-12 from 1941)	447 (+13 from 1941)	0.03215
1941	315 (-42 from 1940)	434 (-87 from 1940)	0.03483
1940	273 (-11 from 1939)	521 (-36 from 1939)	0.04410
1939	262 (+1 from 1938)	557 (-22 from 1938)	0.04912
1938	263 (-9 from 1937)	579 (-41 from 1937)	0.05072
1937	254 (-23 from 1936)	620 (-87 from 1936)	0.05627
1936	231 (-12 from 1935)	707 (-69 from 1935)	0.06561
1935	219 (-20 from 1934)	776 (-116 from 1934)	0.07140
1934	199 (-17 from 1933)	892 (-39 from 1933)	0.08241
1933	182 (-3 from 1932)	931 (-121 from 1932)	0.08900
1932	179 (-8 from 1931)	1052 (-36 from 1931)	0.09509
1931	171 (-15 from 1930)	1088 (-239 from 1930)	0.09858
1930	156 (-6 from 1929)	1327 (-125 from 1929)	0.11376
1929	150 (-4 from 1928)	1452 (-139 from 1928)	0.12544
1928	146 (-5 from 1927)	1591 (-147 from 1927)	0.13308
1927	141 (-12 from 1926)	1738 (-289 from 1926)	0.14056
1926	129 No change from 1925	2027 (-81 from 1925)	0.16477
1925	129 (-9 from 1924)	2108 (-176 from 1924)	0.16689
1924	120 (-7 from 1923)	2284 (-81 from 1923)	0.17628
1923	113 (-5 from 1922)	2365 (-197 from 1922)	0.18883
1922	108 (-5 from 1921)	2562 (-151 from 1921)	0.20536
1921	103 (-2 from 1920)	2713 (+11 from 1920)	0.21200
1920	101 (-3 from 1919)	2702 (+50 from 1919)	0.21720
1919	98 (-4 from 1918)	2652 (-195 from 1918)	0.22577
1918	94 (+1 from 1917)	2847 (+306 from 1917)	0.23679
1917	95 (-4 from 1916)	2541 (-95 from 1916)	0.22613
1916	91 (-1 from 1915)	2636 (+154 from 1915)	0.24279
1915	90 (-1 from 1914)	2482 (+589 from 1914)	0.24242
1914	89 (-3 from 1913)	1893 (+264 from 1913)	0.23763
1913	86 (-1 from 1912)	1629 (+164 from 1912)	0.24873
1912	85 (-4 from 1911)	1465 (+275 from 1911)	0.24970
1911	81 (+6 from 1910)	1190 (+139 from 1910)	0.26934
1910	87 (-5 from 1909)	1051 (+23 from 1909)	0.25052
1909	82 (+2 from 1908)	1028 (+73 from 1908)	0.27928
1908	84 (+2 from 1907)	955 (+66 from 1907)	0.26937
1907	86 (+9 from 1906)	889 (+171 from 1906)	0.26346
1906	95 (+4 from 1905)	718 (+16 from 1905)	0.22908
1905	99 (+1 from 1904)	702 (+81 from 1904)	0.22655
1904	100 (+6 from 1903)	621 (+79 from 1903)	0.21235
1903	106 (+11 from 1902)	542 (+44 from 1902)	0.19483
1902	117 (+8 from 1901)	498 (+92 from 1901)	0.17765
1901	125 (+15 from 1900)	406 (-26 from 1900)	0.15970
1900	140 (+21 from 1899)	432 (+154 from 1899)	0.13596
1899	161 (+16 from 1898)	278 (+16 from 1898)	0.11233
1898	177 (+5 from 1897)	262 (+32 from 1897)	0.09557
1897	182 (+22 from 1896)	230 (+44 from 1896)	0.09264
1896	204 (+12 from 1895)	186 (+28 from 1895)	0.07381
1895	216 (-7 from 1894)	158 (-6 from 1894)	0.06394
1894	209 (+27 from 1893)	164 (+41 from 1893)	0.06950
1893	236 (+19 from 1892)	123 (+16 from 1892)	0.05461
1892	255 (+27 from 1891)	107 (+29 from 1891)	0.04757
1891	282 (-2 from 1890)	78 (-2 from 1890)	0.03968
1890	280 (+14 from 1889)	80 (+13 from 1889)	0.03967
1889	294 (+39 from 1888)	67 (+15 from 1888)	0.03541
1888	333 (+4 from 1887)	52 (+12 from 1887)	0.02745
1887	337 (+69 from 1886)	40 (+12 from 1886)	0.02574
1886	406 (-41 from 1885)	28 (-3 from 1885)	0.01821
1885	365 (+12 from 1884)	31 (+3 from 1884)	0.02184
1884	377 (+103 from 1883)	28 (+12 from 1883)	0.02035
1883	480 (+27 from 1882)	16 (+3 from 1882)	0.01333
1882	507 (-60 from 1881)	13 (-1 from 1881)	0.01124
1881	447 (+389 from 1880)	14 (+9 from 1880)	0.01416
1880	836 First SSA data recorded	5 First SSA data recorded	0.00512

American States Popularity Rankings for Opal

(From the Most to Least Popular, Based on Number of Births )

Texas (TX)

#7002021

#8212022

#7202023

Oklahoma (OK)

#3182021

#5222022

#4172023

Kentucky (KY)

#4112021

#2482022

#4152023

Missouri (MO)

#2122021

#3472022

#3192023

Arkansas (AR)

#2282021

#2182022

#2542023

West Virginia (WV)

#3601975

#3401983

#2562022

Tennessee (TN)

#4082021

#2802022

#3542023

Ohio (OH)

#4002021

#4102022

#3102023

Alabama (AL)

#6802019

#2852022

#3982023

Illinois (IL)

#7342021

#10252022

#8702023

Indiana (IN)

#3062021

#2802022

#2632023

Kansas (KS)

#3082021

#3802022

#2232023

Georgia (GA)

#8322021

#6692022

#4032023

North Carolina (NC)

#6412021

#4982022

#5172023

Iowa (IA)

#6532021

#3802022

#1592023

California (CA)

#7292021

#6832022

#7412023

Mississippi (MS)

#5581956

#5482019

#6382023

Virginia (VA)

#7252021

#8382022

#5692023

Nebraska (NE)

#2401936

#2021938

#4112019

Louisiana (LA)

#8451983

#8142021

#6222022

Michigan (MI)

#4072021

#4892022

#4342023

Colorado (CO)

#5102021

#2732022

#3622023

Pennsylvania (PA)

#6902021

#4712022

#6122023

Florida (FL)

#8722021

#9042022

#7112023

Minnesota (MN)

#5032021

#3392022

#3842023

Washington (WA)

#3362021

#3602022

#3172023

Oregon (OR)

#1252021

#1132022

#1712023

Wisconsin (WI)

#3692021

#5012022

#3432023

Idaho (ID)

#2182020

#2122021

#1292023

South Dakota (SD)

#1231930

#1831932

#2121934

South Carolina (SC)

#7652021

#6592022

#6002023

North Dakota (ND)

#1811934

#1771935

#2582017

Utah (UT)

#3202021

#4202022

#2672023

Montana (MT)

#2442016

#872020

#1032023

Arizona (AZ)

#4552021

#5072022

#5052023

New Mexico (NM)

#2721937

#2561944

#4522016

New York (NY)

#12922021

#16212022

#13732023

Wyoming (WY)

#811927

#851929

#702022

Maine (ME)

#1991922

#1911925

#2161927

Nevada (NV)

#4272021

#4872022

#4782023

Maryland (MD)

#2871927

#10412021

#9062022

New Jersey (NJ)

#11312020

Hawaii (HI)

#2002017

Alaska (AK)

#1722022

New Hampshire (NH)

#2662023

Massachusetts (MA)

#9522020

Popularity Rankings for Opal in other Countries and American Territories

(From the Most to Least Popular, Based on Rankings)

Popularity in Canada

Canada

#16652021

#8842022

#7312023

Source: Social Security Administration (SSA) and Other National Sources

Is Opal a Name for Boys or Girls?

Opal is traditionally a name for girls. It is primarily used for female children, referring to the gemstone’s delicate and beautiful nature.

Variants, Nicknames, Diminutives, and Ideal Middle Names for Opal

Opaline
Opala
Opall
Opalla
Opaleigh
Opel
Opella
Ophela
Opil
Opelle

O
Opie
Opa
Ollie
Pally
Polly
Meaning: Relaxed, weary
Origin: Italian, Hebrew, GreekLia
Lala
Meaning: Other, fairy maiden, goddess
Origin: GermanElla

O
Opie
Op

Opal in Famous People Names, Pop Culture, and Places

Opal Kunz (Aviator, 1894-1967): American aviator and one of the first female pilots in the United States.
Opal Palmer Adisa (Writer, 1954): Jamaican-American poet, author, and professor known for her work in literature and advocacy for women's rights.
Opal Tometi (Activist, 1984-): American human rights activist and co-founder of the Black Lives Matter movement.

Opal ("Because of Winn-Dixie," 2000 Book): A character in the novel by Kate DiCamillo, a young girl who befriends a stray dog named Winn-Dixie.
Opal ("The Opal Deception," 2005 Book): A novel in the Artemis Fowl series by Eoin Colfer featuring the antagonist Opal Koboi.
Opal ("Opal," 2014 Song): A song by Australian singer-songwriter Victoria Legrand, from the band Beach House.

Opal Community (Virginia, USA): A small community in Fauquier County known for its rural charm and historical significance.
Opal Creek Wilderness Area (Oregon, USA): A protected area known for its pristine old-growth forests, crystal-clear streams, and hiking trails.
Opal Lake (Colorado, USA): A scenic alpine lake known for its stunning views and outdoor recreational activities.
Opal Town (Wyoming, USA): A small town in Lincoln County known for its natural beauty and outdoor activities.

Opaline
Meaning: Help, aid, advantage
Origin: GreekOphelia
Ophelie
Odalys
Oriana
Odelia
Meaning: Eighth
Origin: LatinOctavia
Odette
Meaning: Olive tree
Origin: EnglishOlive
Meaning: Olive tree, peace
Origin: LatinOlivia

Pearl
Meaning: Gem, jewel, precious gemstone
Origin: Latin, ItalianGemma
Meaning: Deep red precious stone
Origin: LatinRuby
Jewel
Crystal
Meaning: Jewel, ambergris, amber-colored
Origin: Arabic, Old FrenchAmber
Sapphire
Emerald
Diamond
Meaning: Stone of the side
Origin: SpanishJade

Sibling Names for Opal

For a Brother
For a Sister

Parents Who Like the Name Opal Also Like

Opal’s association with a precious gemstone makes it a desirable choice for parents. Make sure to comment a favorite name for your daughter and sahre this precious Opal moniker with others.

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Opal Name Meaning