Opal
Meaningthe opal gemstone · English
- US rank
- #423
- Syllables
- 2
- Peak
- #81 in 1911
740 babies were named Opal in the US in 2025. It has climbed 225 places in five years.
Found on lists
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US births per million girls, 1880–2025
Most popular states (2025)
Popularity: U.S. Social Security Administration (babies with 5+ births per year).
Did you know?
A few things about Opal you might not know, from US birth records. Handy for convincing a partner, or a grandparent.
- How commonAbout 1 in every 2,172 baby girls born in the US in 2025 was named Opal, 740 babies in all. In a typical school of 500 kids, your Opal would very likely be the only one.
- HistoryOpal has been in use since at least 1880, the first year US birth records were kept. That's 145 years of Opals, and counting.
- Best yearIt was far more popular in 1911, when it ranked #81. Today it's #423, so it could be due a comeback.
- Then vs nowOpal is 26× more common today than it was in 2000. In 2000 it was given to about 1 in 56,818 baby girls; in 2025, about 1 in 2,172.
- TrendOpal has climbed 225 places in the US rankings over the last five years and now sits at #423. Fast risers like this often keep climbing, so expect to hear it more.
- Where it's lovedOpal is most popular in Alaska, where it ranks #90, followed by Montana (#91) and Oregon (#125). It's in the top 1,000 in 39 states.
- MeaningIn English, Opal means “the opal gemstone”.
About the name Opal
Opal is a girl name meaning “the opal gemstone”. It has 4 letters and 2 syllables, starting with O and ending in “-pal”. US birth records list Opal for girls from 1880 to 2025, in 146 of those 146 years. Its best year was 1911, when it ranked #81 among girl names. In 2025 it ranked #423, with 740 babies.
| Decade | Babies per million | About 1 in |
|---|---|---|
| 1880s | 205 | 4,867 girls |
| 1890s | 730 | 1,369 girls |
| 1900s | 2,279 | 439 girls |
| 1910s | 2,542 | 393 girls |
| 1920s | 1,796 | 557 girls |
| 1930s | 800 | 1,250 girls |
| 1940s | 274 | 3,650 girls |
| 1950s | 90 | 11,100 girls |
| 1960s | 49 | 20,530 girls |
| 1970s | 46 | 21,887 girls |
| 1980s | 31 | 32,436 girls |
| 1990s | 17 | 59,277 girls |
| 2000s | 30 | 33,245 girls |
| 2010s | 125 | 8,010 girls |
| 2020s | 377 | 2,650 girls |
Questions about the name Opal
What does the name Opal mean?
Opal means “the opal gemstone” in English.
Is Opal a boy or girl name?
Opal is a girl name.
How popular is the name Opal?
Opal ranked #423 for US girls in 2025, given to 740 babies. Its best year was 1911 (#81).