The nameOpale
Opale is a girl's name taken from a gemstone.
- Girl's name
- French
Meaning
Opale is the French word for opal, a gemstone with iridescent glints, from the Latin opalus, itself linked to the Sanskrit upala, "precious stone". Its shifting colours make it a symbol of light and fancy.
Origin
French, from Latin. Opale belongs to the family of gemstone names, like Jade, Ambre and Perle; the opal is also the birthstone of October.
History
Opale first appeared in France in 1991 and peaked around 2021, carried by the fashion for gemstone and nature names. The Côte d'Opale, the Opal Coast on the English Channel, owes its name to the glints of the sea. English speakers use the form Opal.
Popularity of the name Opale
Opale in France
Opale was most popular in France in the 2020s, with 170 births over the decade, 33% of all recorded babies named Opale. Its rise began around 1991, and it peaked in 2021. Half of all babies named Opale in France were born before 2015, so it is mostly a name of today's children and teenagers. Over the last five years on record, it has been rising: 30 births a year on average, against 18 in the five years before.
Opale in our baby name lists
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Opale mean?
Opale is the French word for opal, a gemstone with iridescent glints, from the Latin opalus, itself linked to the Sanskrit upala, "precious stone". Its shifting colours make it a symbol of light and fancy.
What is the origin of the name Opale?
French, from Latin. Opale belongs to the family of gemstone names, like Jade, Ambre and Perle; the opal is also the birthstone of October.
Is Opale a girl's or a boy's name?
Opale is a girl's name.