Opal

“Jewel (from Sanskrit upala)” — Sanskrit origin

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

Opal has appeared in US records since 1880 — best rank #81 (1911) · 73,539 babies named Opal all-time · 1 in 2,200 girls born in 2025.

Around the world: about 1 in 4,000 girls in England & Wales (2025) · about 1 in 4,500 girls in Scotland (2025) · about 1 in 7,300 girls in Canada (2024).

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

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
Opal — The Simpsons
Opal Cortlandt — All My Children

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).

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