Opal
Meaning of Opal
Opal—said simply as OH-puhl—tells a globe-trotting tale in two crisp syllables: she begins in Sanskrit as upala, “precious stone,” slips through Latin as opalus, and lands in modern ears like sunlight hitting a kaleidoscope. In the United States her popularity reads like a telenovela arc: a blazing debut in the Jazz Age (top 120 in 1924), a long siesta mid-century, and a sparkling comeback this decade, with nearly 700 baby girls in 2024 proving every gem gets a second act. Imagery clings to her like prismatic dust—October birthstones, Southwestern deserts, abuela’s vintage ring catching salsa-night lights—and each glimmer whispers of creativity, good fortune, and a little bit of mystique. She feels at once retro and revolutionary, the kind of heroine who can dance the Charleston, code an app, and still make it to Sunday misa. Parents also appreciate the name’s built-in joke: Opal is already polished, so there’s no need to “shine her up” with nicknames unless you fancy the playful “Opi.” All in all, Opal is a quick, bright flash of color on the baby-name palette—ancient in origin, Latino-friendly in flavor, and forever ready to dazzle.
Pronunciation
British English
- Pronunced as OH-puhl (/ˈoːp(ə)l/)
American English
- Pronunced as OH-puhl (/ˈoʊpl/)
U.S. Popularity Chart
States Popularity Chart
Notable People Named Opal
| Opal Irene Whiteley was an American nature writer and child prodigy who gained international fame for her childhood diary filled with nature observations and lectured on natural history. |
| Opal Lee is an American activist known as the "grandmother of Juneteenth" for her pivotal role in making it a federal holiday. |
| Opal Palmer Adisa is a Jamaican-American poet, novelist, and educator who serves as Director of the Institute for Gender and Development Studies at the University of the West Indies in Jamaica. |
