Orville
Orville was the 6347th most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 14 babies. Its best year was 1913, when it ranked 120th; the most babies were born in 1920 (1,195). Over the last ten years it has moved up 629 places. More babies were named Orville in the 1920s than in any other decade.
Meaning Origin uncertain · English
Say it OR-vil /ˈɔrvɪl/
- Rank in 2025
- #6,347 boys, up 578 places since 2020
- Babies in 2025
- 14boys
- Girls and boys
- Almost always a boy’s name2021–2025
- Peak year
- 19201,195 babies
- Total since 1880
- 35,220babies recorded
What does the name Orville mean?
Orville was invented by the novelist Fanny Burney for Lord Orville, the hero of Evelina (1778). Wiktionary notes a suggestion that she based it on the old Welsh name Eurfyl, linked to aur, "gold"; the French-looking ending -ville is also possible. The aviator Orville Wright (born 1871) is its most famous bearer, and the name was most common in the US around 1900.
Eurfyl (Welsh, “old name linked to "gold" (suggested)”)
How sure is this? Uncertain. A literary coinage; the Welsh Eurfyl link is only a suggestion.
See also: English names.
Sources for this meaning
- Wiktionary, entry 'Orville', Wiktionary (Wikimedia Foundation)
- Wikipedia, 'Orville (given name)', Wikipedia (Wikimedia Foundation)
Orville popularity since 1880
A few girls are given the name too: 155 since 1914.
| Year | Rank (boys) | Babies (boys) |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #6,347 | 14 |
| 2020 | #6,925 | 12 |
| 2010 | #11,804 | 6 |
| 2000 | #4,329 | 18 |
| 1990 | #2,536 | 27 |
| 1980 | #1,426 | 45 |
| 1970 | #874 | 86 |
| 1960 | #629 | 155 |
| 1950 | #416 | 263 |
| 1940 | #256 | 461 |
| 1930 | #187 | 747 |
| 1920 | #134 | 1,195 |
| 1910 | #142 | 223 |
| 1900 | #186 | 112 |
| 1890 | #162 | 88 |
| 1880 | #239 | 49 |
How popular is Orville, counting every spelling?
Orville has no other common spelling that sounds the same.
How many kids will share the name Orville?
14 of the 3,606,400 babies born in the US in 2025 were named Orville (0.00 per 1,000 births). For a boy named Orville born in 2025, the chance that another child with the same name is in a class of 20 children the same age is under 1 in 50. If every grade liked the name as much as the 2025 babies do, only about one elementary school in 596 (of 430 pupils) would have a child named Orville.
Shares of all registered births (NCHS); classes assumed to be children born the same year. How we estimate this.
How old are people named Orville?
About 6,100 people born in the US named Orville are alive today, with a median age of 72; half are between 59 and 81. That makes Orville a name most people associate with older generations.
Babies given the name each year (SSA) times the share of that birth year still alive (SSA life tables). Counts people born in the US only. Method.
Names with a similar history
These names rose and fell in step with Orville: their share of US boys followed the most similar curve since 1880. If you like Orville, they share its era and feel.
Middle names for Orville · Sibling names for Orville
Questions about the name Orville
What does Orville mean?
The origin of Orville is uncertain: a literary coinage; the Welsh Eurfyl link is only a suggestion.
How popular is the name Orville?
Orville was the 6347th most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 14 babies. Its best year was 1913, when it ranked 120th; the most babies were born in 1920 (1,195). Over the last ten years it has moved up 629 places. More babies were named Orville in the 1920s than in any other decade.
Is Orville a boy or girl name?
In 2021–2025, almost always a boy’s name given the name Orville in the US.