How Many People Are Named Opal?

Complete statistics for the name Opal: rarity score, gender breakdown, age distribution, historical popularity, worldwide data, meaning and origin.

Opal
Very Rare
Greek

Opal means 'precious stone' and has a very rare charm. That's just 1 in 23,875 Americans who go by this name, making it truly unique among 13,822 people today. With most Opals over 60, it's clear this classic name belongs to an older generation.

~412
Living in US
1 in 804,489
Americans
1918
Peak Year

📖 Meaning & Origin

💬
Meaning
Precious stone
🌐
Origin
Greek
💎
Lucky Stone
opal
🔢
Numerology
Life Path 8
Personality Traits
Charming Dignified
8
Life Path Number

Traditionally, the life-path number 8 symbolizes power, authority, and success.

🌍 Worldwide Usage

13,822
Worldwide Bearers
#23,235
Global Rank
🇳🇿 New Zealand
34
🇨🇳 China
33
🇵🇬 Papua New Guinea
28
🇦🇺 Australia
17
🇿🇦 South Africa
8
🇨🇴 Colombia
7
🇵🇰 Pakistan
6
🇻🇪 Venezuela
5
🇷🇺 Russia
4
🇹🇷 Turkey
4

⚥ Gender Distribution

♂ Male
24 (0%)
♀ Female
13,798 (100%)

📊 Births by Age Group

Avg Cohort Age: 95
5,748
Would be under 30 (8%)
1,728
Would be 30–60 (2%)
66,031
Would be over 60 (90%)

All 73,507 recorded US births for this name, grouped by the age those individuals would be today. Not adjusted for survival, so the number living today is lower (see the living estimate above).

📈 Popularity Over Time

Peak: 1918

Annual US births from SSA records  ·  Trend: Rising

🏆 Name Scorecard

Popularity
99
Classic Feel
100
Modern Appeal
0
International
5

Scores 0–100 based on statistical analysis of US and worldwide name frequency

📜 Opal Through the Generations

Opal has been a name steeped in tradition, with its peak popularity hitting back in 1918 when 2,886 babies were given this moniker. Today, the majority of those named Opal are over 60, with 66,031 individuals in this age bracket, indicating a strong generational skew. its current status as a classic, old-school name, Opal's trend shows signs of rising interest, suggesting it might be making a comeback among younger parents.

📍 State Distribution (Top 10)

Texas 6,570
Oklahoma 5,294
Kentucky 4,976
Missouri 4,234
Arkansas 3,496
Tennessee 3,091
West Virginia 3,082
Ohio 2,619
Alabama 2,348
Illinois 2,328

⭐ Famous People Named Opal

Opal is a primarily feminine given name derived from the name of the gemstone opal. The gemstone is the birthstone for October. Its name is derived from the Sanskrit upala, which means 'jewel'. It came into use along with other gemstone names during the late Victorian era. The iridescent, many-colored gem was called the "queen of gems" in ancient Rome. The name has recently increased in usage, a trend that has been attributed to a renewed interest in "cottagecore names" with a vintage sensibility that are rooted in the natural world. Author Laura Wattenberg calls the sound of the name unique.…

Full list on Wikipedia →

✨ Similar Names to Opal

🌿 Related Names by Origin

Other names sharing Opal's Greek roots

📄 About the Name Opal

How Many People Have the Name Opal?

Based on Social Security Administration birth records and age-adjusted survival modeling, approximately 412 people in the United States currently share the name Opal. That works out to roughly 1 in every 804,489 Americans, placing it in the Very Rare category.

Is Opal a Common or Rare Name?

Opal is classified as Very Rare. The rarity scale runs from Very Common (shared by millions) through Common, Uncommon, Rare, and Very Rare. Understanding where a name sits helps parents gauge uniqueness, genealogists narrow down records, and individuals settle debates about their own name's distinctiveness.

What Does the Name Opal Mean?

Opal means "precious stone" and comes from Greek origins. The name carries a life-path numerology number of 8.

Gender Breakdown

Of all recorded bearers of Opal in SSA data, approximately 0% are male and 100% are female.

When Was Opal Most Popular?

The name Opal reached peak popularity in 1918, with 2,886 babies registered that year. Current trend: Rising.

How Is This Data Calculated?

All figures are statistical estimates, not exact government headcounts. The underlying data comes from the SSA National Baby Names dataset. Full methodology is explained on the methodology page.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

How many people are named Opal?

Approximately 412 people named Opal live in the United States today. All-time US births on record total 412. That works out to roughly 1 in 804,489 Americans.

Is Opal a rare name?

Opal is classified as Very Rare in the United States. Approximately 1 in every 804,489 Americans has this name.

What does the name Opal mean?

Opal means "precious stone" and comes from Greek origins.

Is Opal more male or female?

Based on SSA records, 0% of people named Opal are male and 100% are female.

When was Opal most popular?

Opal peaked in 1918 with 2,886 births that year. Current trend: Rising.

How accurate are these statistics?

All figures are statistical estimates based on SSA birth records and age-adjusted modeling. See the methodology page for full details.

Disclaimer: All results are statistical estimates based on aggregated SSA birth records and modeling. Not exact counts of individuals. Data source: SSA National Baby Names dataset.
Quick Stats
Living in US412
All-Time Births412
1 in X1 in 804,489
RarityVery Rare
GenderFemale
Avg Age95
Peak Year1918
World Rank#23,235
Male %0%
Female %100%

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Data Source

Powered by the SSA National Baby Names dataset, birth registrations from 1880 to present.

All counts are statistical estimates. See the methodology page.