Orville

At a Glance: Name: Orville – Meaning: A name invented by novelist Frances Burney for a character in her 1778 novel 'Evelina'; often read as 'golden town,' though it may instead draw on the Welsh name Eurfyl ('gold'). – Origin: Literary coinage (English, possibly Welsh-influenced) – Gender: used for both boys and girls – Pronunciation: OR-vil

---

Orville isn't an ancient name with a long lineage — it was invented by novelist Frances Burney for a character in her 1778 novel 'Evelina.' You might see it explained as meaning 'golden town,' but that's not accurate; Wiktionary suggests it may instead echo the Welsh name Eurfyl, meaning 'gold.' Either way, it's a name born on the page rather than passed down through generations.

Meaning & Origin of Orville

Meaning: A name invented by novelist Frances Burney for a character in her 1778 novel 'Evelina'; often read as 'golden town,' though it may instead draw on the Welsh name Eurfyl ('gold')..

Origin: Literary coinage (English, possibly Welsh-influenced).

A common claim: Widely described as meaning 'golden town.' Actually: Orville was invented by novelist Frances Burney for a character in her 1778 novel 'Evelina.' It's often read as 'golden town,' though it may instead echo the Welsh name Eurfyl ('gold').

Source: Wiktionary, Wikipedia.

How to Pronounce Orville

Phonetic: OR-vil   IPA: /ˈɔːrvɪl/

Popularity of Orville

Orville peaked at #120 back in 1913, when 676 baby boys were given the name; by 2024 it had dropped to #7117, with just 12 boys named Orville that year.

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

Make Orville Name Art

Free printable nursery art for Orville, 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.

• Maryelizabeth
• Rutledge
• Mayes
• Roza
• Lavelle
• Diva

FAQ

What does the name Orville mean?

A name invented by novelist Frances Burney for a character in her 1778 novel ‘Evelina’; often read as ‘golden town,’ though it may instead draw on the Welsh name Eurfyl (‘gold’).. (Source: Wiktionary, https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Orville)

How do you pronounce Orville?

Orville is pronounced OR-vil (IPA: /ˈɔːrvɪl/).

Is Orville a popular name right now?

Orville peaked at #120 in 1913 and is ranked #7117 as of 2024. (U.S. Social Security Administration data, 1880–2024.)

More Baby Name Inspiration

• Check any name’s popularity history
• Take the naming-style quiz
• Make art for a different name