Opal

At a Glance: Name: Opal – Meaning: named after the opal gemstone; the gem-word itself traces to a Sanskrit term for 'jewel' – Origin: English (19th-century coinage from the gemstone name, ultimately Sanskrit) – Gender: Girl – Pronunciation: OH-pal

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Opal comes straight from the gemstone, a name that entered English usage in the 19th century and traces back to a Sanskrit word for 'jewel.' It's a vintage pick with a nature-inspired feel, pronounced OH-pal. If you're drawn to gem names with a wandering, old-soul quality, Opal fits that mold.

Meaning & Origin of Opal

Meaning: Named after the opal gemstone; the gem-word itself traces to a sanskrit term for 'jewel'.

Origin: English (19th-century coinage from the gemstone name, ultimately Sanskrit).

Source: Wiktionary, Wikipedia.

How to Pronounce Opal

Phonetic: OH-pal   IPA: /ˈoʊpəl/

Popularity of Opal

Opal hit its high point in 1911, ranking #81 with 1,190 babies given the name that year. It's far quieter now, sitting at #450 in 2024 with 694 girls named Opal.

Source: U.S. Social Security Administration birth-name data, 1880–2024.

Make Opal Name Art

Free printable nursery art for Opal, pre-loaded below — pick a layout, palette, and font, then download a print-ready PNG.

Names With a Similar Story

Derived from shared style, era, and origin data (or, for names we have no style data for, a similar Social Security popularity trajectory) — not a hand-picked list.

• Laurel
• Nova
• Olive
• Rose
• Rosemary
• Sylvia

FAQ

What does the name Opal mean?

Named after the opal gemstone; the gem-word itself traces to a sanskrit term for ‘jewel’. (Source: Wiktionary, https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Opal)

How do you pronounce Opal?

Opal is pronounced OH-pal (IPA: /ˈoʊpəl/).

Is Opal a popular name right now?

Opal peaked at #81 in 1911 and is ranked #450 as of 2024. (U.S. Social Security Administration data, 1880–2024.)

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