Opie
Opie is a boy's name of English origin.
Meaning
Divine bear (from Osbern) or derived as a diminutive of Opal.
Origin and history
Opie is a diminutive traditionally derived from names like Opal or the Old Norse name Ásbjǫrn (Osbern). It is heavily associated with American pop culture through the television character Opie Taylor from The Andy Griffith Show. In recent years, it has seen a modest revival in the United States as a rustic, vintage nickname-name.
Popularity in the United States
707 babies in the United States have been named Opie since 1880. It ranks #3969 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #1684.
States where it is most popular
- AR (32 %)
- WV (32 %)
- TN (16 %)
- CA (10 %)
- OH (10 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 0 |
| 1890-1900 | 0 |
| 1900-1910 | 5 |
| 1910-1920 | 81 |
| 1920-1930 | 90 |
| 1930-1940 | 42 |
| 1940-1950 | 24 |
| 1950-1960 | 12 |
| 1960-1970 | 30 |
| 1970-1980 | 21 |
| 1980-1990 | 0 |
| 1990-2000 | 0 |
| 2000-2010 | 0 |
| 2010-2019 | 159 |
| 2020-2029 | 243 |
Famous people named Opie
- Opie Taylor: Fictional Character
Fun facts
- The name gained widespread cultural recognition through the young character Opie Taylor, played by Ron Howard on The Andy Griffith Show.
- Historically used as a Cornish surname derived from the given name Osbern, meaning 'god bear'.