Opal

Opal - A very unique female name

Opal appeared on the charts for the first time in 1910 on position #87. In this article you'll learn the history of this name, statistics, see famous people named Opal and more.
Are you having a baby or looking to learn more about the name Opal? Our experts and editorial staff have gathered trends and insights for 30,000+ baby names over the last 100 years -- And on this page you will learn everything you ever wanted to know about the name Opal. The baby girl name Opal was given to 714 baby girls in 2025, ranking #422 on the national girl baby name top chart.


With that position 1 in 1,826 baby girls were given this name - making this a very unique female name according to our Popularity Score algorithm. Opal peaked in popularity 115 years ago in 1911 on position 83.

Famous with this name

How would you rate Opal, 1-5?

Opal is currently topping the charts in...

Did you know that popularity can vary a lot between states? Opal is currently topping the baby name charts in Montana at position #99 - and is the least popular in New York at position #1,015.

Why care about state specific baby name charts? It could be that a name that is very popular on the national overall charts is less (or even more) popular where you live. So make sure you check out the state specific charts below and find out how popular or unique Opal is where you live.

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Opal origin and meaning

Sanskrit, via Greek and Latin

From the gemstone name, ultimately from Sanskrit upala, 'precious stone, jewel', via Greek opallios and Latin opalus

Opal was a fashionable jewel name in the early 1900s, peaking in 1918, then fell away for decades. It has returned strongly as a vintage gem name, rising from #651 in 2020 to #422 in 2025.

Attested etymology

Opal is a 4 letter name with 2 syllables.

To see famous people named Opal, pop culture references for the name Opal and nicknames & variations - visit Nameberry or Wikipedia.

Similar to Opal

We've found the following names that sound similar to Opal, sorted by popularity.

Ophelia / Ofelia / Ofilia / Obelia / Oval / Ople / Ovell / Ovella /

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Name statistics

Most parents-to-be know if they want a popular or unique name, and with these charts and data tables you can easily get a better understanding of how popular or unique this name is.

With a quick glance you can easily tell if this name is increasing or declining in popularity - But note that its current popularity can actually differ a lot from state to state.

Chart position per year (visualized)

Chart position per state (visualized)

Chart position per year (table view)

Chart position per state (table view)

Even more about Opal

These are some of the common questions you may want to have answered to know if this is the perfect name for your baby.

Is Opal a common or unique name?

By analyzing the number of births and frequency of this name we've determined that it's currently a very unique female name.

What is the number of syllables for the name Opal?

2 syllables. Why is this important? One of the things that makes a baby name sound good and have a nice rythm is the number of syllables - and especially the number of syllables along with the syllable count for your last name. A simple rule is to avoid having the same number of syllables in your first, middle and last name.

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Pronunciation

OH-pul · /ˈoʊpəl/

Around the world

No traditional forms in other languages — this name was created in America in our own time.

Spellings and nicknames

• Opalene — Rare elaborated form

Famous bearers

None yet — no bearer for this name is documented well enough for us to list, so we show none rather than pad the list.

Style

NatureWord nameVintage revival

Why parents choose it

Parents rediscovering Pearl and Ruby are finding Opal fresher, with its iridescent, mystical glow.

Worth knowing

• Older superstition called opals unlucky unless they are your birthstone — a piece of folklore some grandparents still mention.