Opal

#423 for girls in 2025, 740 births · Last seen for boys in 1944 at #3,430
Given to girls 99.0% of the time

Showing
Show data for
Peak · girls
1911 · 1,190 births
Debut · girls
5 births
In top 100 · girls
16 yrs
of 146 years
Total births · girls
73,539
since 1880

Opal over time

girls

Rank among girls' names. Click any year to open it.

#1#10#100#1,000rank188019001920194019601980200020201944peak #81, 1911girls
Hover or use arrow keys to read values by year; click or press Enter to open that year.

Gaps mean fewer than 5 babies received the name that year, so the SSA doesn't publish it.

Show data table
Yeargirlsboys
rankbirthsrankbirths
2025#423740—
2024#449696—
2023#485631—
2022#524595—
2021#545562—
2020#648445—
2019#680427—
2018#807337—
2017#847321—
2016#1,012261—
2015#1,110233—
2014#1,301183—
2013#1,684125—
2012#1,904105—
2011#2,07393—
2010#2,31382—
2009#2,46577—
2008#2,25387—
2007#2,64769—
2006#2,37579—
2005#3,50942—
2004#2,71160—
2003#3,59039—
2002#3,52338—
2001#3,63136—
2000#3,88632—
1999#4,57624—
1998#3,17339—
1997#3,30235—
1996#3,94227—
1995#4,84620—
1994#3,70429—
1993#3,29034—
1992#3,68029—
1991#3,44331—
1990#3,07836—
1989#2,93137—
1988#2,27449—
1987#2,06553—
1986#1,98055—
1985#2,13749—
1984#2,05049—
1983#1,96152—
1982#1,90056—
1981#1,76763—
1980#1,73564—
1979#1,50378—
1978#1,55870—
1977#1,63764—
1976#1,31682—
1975#1,54465—
1974#1,39973—
1973#1,49663—
1972#1,48864—
1971#1,33680—
1970#1,51865—
1969#1,35571—
1968#1,27974—
1967#1,23974—
1966#1,27372—
1965#1,13587—
1964#1,17288—
1963#1,10497—
1962#1,09099—
1961#1,083102—
1960#920133—
1959#971118—
1958#973113—
1957#812155—
1956#806152—
1955#687186—
1954#708170—
1953#643193—
1952#620201—
1951#580217—
1950#584207—
1949#487271—
1948#507260—
1947#431356—
1946#424330—
1945#383337—
1944#343400#3,4305
1943#341436—
1942#327447#3,2126
1941#315434—
1940#273521—
1939#262557#2,6098
1938#263579#2,08412
1937#254620#2,33210
1936#231706#1,96413
1935#219777#2,39610
1934#199892#1,93214
1933#182931#3,6425
1932#1791,052#1,77717
1931#1711,088#1,77017
1930#1561,327#2,17813
1929#1501,452#1,79318
1928#1461,591#1,41327
1927#1411,738#1,69221
1926#1292,027#1,56523
1925#1292,108#1,58323
1924#1202,284#1,53225
1923#1132,365#1,46026
1922#1082,562#1,30831
1921#1032,713#1,36030
1920#1012,702#1,30031
1919#982,652#1,44925
1918#942,847#1,09439
1917#952,541#1,22231
1916#912,636#1,07236
1915#902,482#1,24128
1914#891,893#1,15325
1913#861,629#1,07522
1912#851,465#1,02320
1911#811,190#85615
1910#871,051#78215
1909#821,028#1,0838
1908#84955#87710
1907#86889#81511
1906#95718#8529
1905#99702—
1904#100621#1,0646
1903#106542#1,0096
1902#117498#8628
1901#125406#8587
1900#140432—
1899#161278—
1898#177262—
1897#182230#1,0575
1896#204186#9007
1895#216158—
1894#209164—
1893#236123—
1892#255107—
1891#28278—
1890#28080—
1889#29467—
1888#33352—
1887#33740—
1886#40628—
1885#36531—
1884#37728—
1883#48016—
1882#50713—
1881#44714—
1880#8365—
First appearance
1880

In the first year the SSA published name data, Opal was already there! It came in at #836, and was given to 5 baby girls.


Quietest stretch: 1880, when fewer than 6 girls a year got the name.

Where Opal is popular in 1944

  • Rank in state
  • Top 10
  • 11–50
  • 51–100
  • 101–500
  • 501+
  • Not published
Alaska: fewer than 5 girls named Opal, so not publishedAKMaine: fewer than 5 girls named Opal, so not publishedMEVermont: fewer than 5 girls named Opal, so not publishedVTNew Hampshire: fewer than 5 girls named Opal, so not publishedNHWashington: fewer than 5 girls named Opal, so not publishedWAIdaho: fewer than 5 girls named Opal, so not publishedIDMontana: fewer than 5 girls named Opal, so not publishedMTNorth Dakota: fewer than 5 girls named Opal, so not publishedNDMinnesota: fewer than 5 girls named Opal, so not publishedMNIllinois: #417 for girls · 12 births · 1 in 5,279 girlsILWisconsin: fewer than 5 girls named Opal, so not publishedWIMichigan: #569 for girls · 5 births · 1 in 10,121 girlsMINew York: fewer than 5 girls named Opal, so not publishedNYMassachusetts: fewer than 5 girls named Opal, so not publishedMARhode Island: fewer than 5 girls named Opal, so not publishedRIOregon: fewer than 5 girls named Opal, so not publishedORNevada: fewer than 5 girls named Opal, so not publishedNVWyoming: fewer than 5 girls named Opal, so not publishedWYSouth Dakota: fewer than 5 girls named Opal, so not publishedSDIowa: fewer than 5 girls named Opal, so not publishedIAIndiana: #261 for girls · 12 births · 1 in 2,564 girlsINOhio: #329 for girls · 15 births · 1 in 3,991 girlsOHPennsylvania: fewer than 5 girls named Opal, so not publishedPANew Jersey: fewer than 5 girls named Opal, so not publishedNJConnecticut: fewer than 5 girls named Opal, so not publishedCTCalifornia: #524 for girls · 12 births · 1 in 6,653 girlsCAUtah: fewer than 5 girls named Opal, so not publishedUTColorado: #196 for girls · 9 births · 1 in 1,136 girlsCONebraska: fewer than 5 girls named Opal, so not publishedNEMissouri: #272 for girls · 13 births · 1 in 2,363 girlsMOKentucky: #124 for girls · 44 births · 1 in 631 girlsKYWest Virginia: #134 for girls · 23 births · 1 in 796 girlsWVVirginia: #209 for girls · 24 births · 1 in 1,225 girlsVAMaryland: fewer than 5 girls named Opal, so not publishedMDDelaware: fewer than 5 girls named Opal, so not publishedDEArizona: fewer than 5 girls named Opal, so not publishedAZNew Mexico: #238 for girls · 6 births · 1 in 1,056 girlsNMKansas: #306 for girls · 5 births · 1 in 2,880 girlsKSArkansas: #166 for girls · 24 births · 1 in 810 girlsARTennessee: #195 for girls · 27 births · 1 in 1,151 girlsTNNorth Carolina: #301 for girls · 16 births · 1 in 2,573 girlsNCSouth Carolina: fewer than 5 girls named Opal, so not publishedSCDistrict of Columbia: fewer than 5 girls named Opal, so not publishedDCOklahoma: #250 for girls · 12 births · 1 in 1,690 girlsOKLouisiana: #329 for girls · 12 births · 1 in 2,235 girlsLAMississippi: #308 for girls · 11 births · 1 in 2,182 girlsMSAlabama: #277 for girls · 16 births · 1 in 2,011 girlsALGeorgia: #226 for girls · 27 births · 1 in 1,321 girlsGAHawaii: fewer than 5 girls named Opal, so not publishedHITexas: #337 for girls · 32 births · 1 in 2,365 girlsTXFlorida: #311 for girls · 9 births · 1 in 2,476 girlsFL

Hover or tap a state for its numbers.

Top states · girls
  1. Kentucky#124 · 1 in 631
  2. West Virginia#134 · 1 in 796
  3. Arkansas#166 · 1 in 810
  4. Tennessee#195 · 1 in 1,151
  5. Colorado#196 · 1 in 1,136

Best ever in a state: #7 in Oklahoma, 1910.

Show every state
StateRankBirthsShare
Kentucky#124441 in 631
West Virginia#134231 in 796
Arkansas#166241 in 810
Tennessee#195271 in 1,151
Colorado#19691 in 1,136
Virginia#209241 in 1,225
Georgia#226271 in 1,321
New Mexico#23861 in 1,056
Oklahoma#250121 in 1,690
Indiana#261121 in 2,564
Missouri#272131 in 2,363
Alabama#277161 in 2,011
North Carolina#301161 in 2,573
Kansas#30651 in 2,880
Mississippi#308111 in 2,182
Florida#31191 in 2,476
Louisiana#329121 in 2,235
Ohio#329151 in 3,991
Texas#337321 in 2,365
Illinois#417121 in 5,279
California#524121 in 6,653
Michigan#56951 in 10,121
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Delaware———
District of Columbia———
Hawaii———
Idaho———
Iowa———
Maine———
Maryland———
Massachusetts———
Minnesota———
Montana———
Nebraska———
Nevada———
New Hampshire———
New Jersey———
New York———
North Dakota———
Oregon———
Pennsylvania———
Rhode Island———
South Carolina———
South Dakota———
Utah———
Vermont———
Washington———
Wisconsin———
Wyoming———

Ranks are within each state; “1 in N” is out of the girls born there that year. The SSA only publishes a name in a state when 5 or more babies of one sex got it.

See more about Opal
Momentum · girls
Rising
  • 26 spots since 2024 (#449 → #423)
  • 225 spots since 2020 (#648 → #423)
  • 687 spots since 2015 (#1,110 → #423)
  • Biggest jump: 389 spots in 1881 (#836 → #447)
  • Biggest drop: 163 spots in 1961 (#920 → #1,083)
Rise & fade · girls
31 yrs to peak
  • Debuted 1880
  • Peaked 1911 at #81 (1,190 births)
  • Births halved by 1938, 27 yrs later
Top of the charts · girls
Top 100 for 16 yrs
  • Top 10: never
  • Top 100: 16 yrs · run 1904–1919
  • Top 1,000: 90 yrs · run 1880–1960
Share of babies · girls
1 in 338
  • Highest: 1 in 338 girls born in 1909 were named Opal (0.30%)
  • Latest: 1 in 2,172 girls born in 2025 (0.05%)
  • Its best rank, #81 in 1911, was only 1 in 352 (0.28%) — a smaller share of a much bigger birth year
Era · girls
The 1920s
  • 29.3% of all girls named Opal (21,542) were born in this decade
Show by decade
DecadeBirthsBest rankAvg rank
1880s294#294 (1889)#438
1890s1,666#161 (1899)#220
1900s6,791#82 (1909)#103
1910s20,386#81 (1911)#90
1920s21,542#101 (1920)#124
1930s8,529#156 (1930)#212
1940s3,792#273 (1940)#383
1950s1,712#580 (1951)#738
1960s897#920 (1960)#1,165
1970s704#1,316 (1976)#1,480
1980s527#1,735 (1980)#2,080
1990s304#3,078 (1990)#3,703
2000s559#2,253 (2008)#3,059
2010s2,167#680 (2019)#1,373
2020s3,669#423 (2025)#512

All figures count published births only (names given to at least 5 girls in a year). Registrations before 1937 are incomplete, so early shares and totals run low.

Opal in 1944

girls
#343
400 births · 1 in 3,318 girls
boys
#3,430
5 births · 1 in 272,575 boys

Top girls' names in 1944

  1. #1Mary62,476
  2. #2Barbara39,196
  3. #3Linda38,415
  4. #4Patricia36,874
  5. #5Carol30,456
  6. #6Sandra26,024
  7. #7Nancy23,218
  8. #8Sharon22,433
  9. #9Judith22,431
  10. #10Betty19,761
  11. #343Opal400

Top boys' names in 1944

  1. #1James76,951
  2. #2Robert70,855
  3. #3John66,616
  4. #4William52,375
  5. #5Richard45,643
  6. #6David37,382
  7. #7Charles34,662
  8. #8Thomas31,604
  9. #9Michael26,717
  10. #10Ronald25,513
  11. #3,430Opal5
More about 1944

girls

1,327,223 girls got a published name in 1944; 1 in 3,318 of them was named Opal, which outranked 93.5% of the 5,243 girls' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 24.2% of girls (24.6% in 1880, 7.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Opal
  1. #340Ollie406
  2. #341Michelle405
  3. #341Sonja405
  4. #343Opal400
  5. #344Gay397
  6. #345Gracie396
  7. #346Ruthie394
Biggest movers since 1943
Risers
  1. ↑ 1,229Dorinda#1,834 → #605
  2. ↑ 611Deirdre#1,556 → #945
  3. ↑ 504Alana#1,251 → #747
  4. ↑ 460Elyse#1,327 → #867
  5. ↑ 407Joella#1,395 → #988
Fallers
  1. ↓ 613Michal#996 → #1,609
  2. ↓ 493Aloma#762 → #1,255
  3. ↓ 448Louvenia#916 → #1,364
  4. ↓ 347Norine#889 → #1,236
  5. ↓ 341Lyla#864 → #1,205

Among names in the top 1,000 of either year.

boys

1,362,875 boys got a published name in 1944; 1 in 272,575 of them was named Opal, which outranked 12.3% of the 3,909 boys' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 34.4% of boys (44.2% in 1880, 8.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Opal
  1. #3,109Zan6
  2. #3,109Zebedee6
  3. #3,109Zelma6
  4. #3,430Opal5
  5. #3,430Add5
  6. #3,430Adel5
  7. #3,430Adelard5

Tied with 479 names at #3,430; 3 shown. Tied names share a rank, as in SSA's lists.

Biggest movers since 1943
Risers
  1. ↑ 647Rickie#1,461 → #814
  2. ↑ 586Rusty#1,577 → #991
  3. ↑ 585Humberto#1,280 → #695
  4. ↑ 408Llewellyn#1,343 → #935
  5. ↑ 402Hilario#1,308 → #906
Fallers
  1. ↓ 359Elwyn#923 → #1,282
  2. ↓ 356Albin#856 → #1,212
  3. ↓ 348Prentiss#980 → #1,328
  4. ↓ 286Barrie#969 → #1,255
  5. ↓ 269Duke#986 → #1,255

Among names in the top 1,000 of either year.

See the top 100 for 1944 →