Opal

Meaning: Jewel
Origin: English (from Sanskrit) — From Sanskrit upala

Girl's name · #423 in the US (2025) · Comeback

Popularity over time

Opal was #81 in 1911, slipped to #4969 by 1995, and has climbed back to #423 today. Roughly 74,000 girls have been named Opal since 1880. In all that time it has never once missed a year of the national records.

Across the states

See where Opal is more common.

Appears in 2020-2025 birth records of 37 states. See the full state-by-state map on this page.

Around the world

See how Opal ranks in other countries and regions.

#626 in England & Wales (2025) · #739 in Scotland (2025) · #1,273 in Canada (2024).

Famous Opals

Opal Palmer Adisa — American poet and academic (born 1954)
Opal Kunz — American aviator (1894–1967)
Opal Irene Whiteley — American writer (1897–1992)
Opal Sofer — Israeli association footballer
Opal Lee — African-American retired teacher, counselor, and activist

In stories & tradition

Opal Koboi — Artemis Fowl (novel series)
Opal — The Simpsons (TV series)
Opal Cortlandt — All My Children (TV series)

What Opals become

Among 26 notable people named Opal:

Artists & writers appear 1.85× more often than among typical names — e.g. Opal Palmer Adisa, American poet and academic (born 1954).

Similar names: Ila · Hope · Veda · Mina · Goldie · Mae

Browse more girl names — popularity, trends and eras for 5,700+ American names, free.

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