Opal
Opal is a girl's name of English origin.
Meaning
Precious stone or jewel.
Origin and history
Opal is a gemstone name derived from the Sanskrit word 'upala', meaning precious stone. It was popular in the late 19th and early 20th centuries and has experienced a modern revival in the United States alongside other vintage gemstone names. It is also recognized as the birthstone for the month of October.
Popularity in the United States
73,539 babies in the United States have been named Opal since 1880. It ranks #464 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #498.
States where it is most popular
- TX (10.8 %)
- OK (8.7 %)
- KY (8.2 %)
- MO (7 %)
- AR (5.7 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 294 |
| 1890-1900 | 1,666 |
| 1900-1910 | 6,791 |
| 1910-1920 | 20,386 |
| 1920-1930 | 21,542 |
| 1930-1940 | 8,529 |
| 1940-1950 | 3,792 |
| 1950-1960 | 1,712 |
| 1960-1970 | 897 |
| 1970-1980 | 704 |
| 1980-1990 | 527 |
| 1990-2000 | 304 |
| 2000-2010 | 559 |
| 2010-2019 | 2,167 |
| 2020-2029 | 3,669 |
Famous people named Opal
- Opal Lee: Activist, Educator
Fun facts
- Opal is traditionally recognized as the birthstone for October.
- The English gemstone name ultimately traces back to the Sanskrit word 'upala', meaning precious stone.