Opal
How to say it: OH-pul · /ˈoʊpəl/
From Sanskrit 'upala' meaning 'precious stone'. The iridescent opal gem; used as a given name since the Victorian era.
Opal was the 429th most popular girls’ name in the United States in 2025, given to 740 babies (Social Security Administration). Its busiest decade was the 1910s, its births are up 3.1-fold in ten years, and it is projected to rise to #272 by 2030.
Updated · SSA 2025 data, published May 2026 · Insee 2025 data, published July 2026 · How we compute these figures
Key facts
| Rank among girls’ names, 2025 | #429 |
|---|---|
| Babies born in 2025 | 740 |
| Share of births | 1 in 4,480 |
| Peak decade | 1910s |
| Change over 10 years | ×3.1 |
| Projected rank for 2030 (estimate) | #272 |
| In France, 2025 | #894 among girls’ names, 0 births |
Sources: Social Security Administration (SSA), Insee (France). How we compute these figures.
Its life, decade by decade
Long ago in the 1910s Opal stood at its tallest. Now far below that height yet still well used, it should lift a little.
What goes with it
Crisp at the start then soft at the close, with a gentle glow of a gemstone. Pearl and Ruby move in the same circle.
In the classroom
In a class of 25 children born in 2025, the chance that another child is called Opal is about 1 in 187.
Around the world
This spelling is used in English, Hindi.
In France: #894 for girls in 2025.
Good to know
- Opal Fruits was the original UK name of Starburst chews (1959-1998); nostalgic UK association.
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