Orval Boy
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: OR-val /ˈɔːrvəl/
Origin: English; French
Meaning: English: 'golden'; French: 'from the town of Orval'
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Orval has its roots in Old French, derived from the elements "or" meaning "gold" and "val" meaning "valley," which together can be interpreted as "golden valley." This etymological composition reflects a picturesque landscape, suggesting a place of beauty and value. The name entered the English language through the Norman Conquest of England in the 11th century, when many Old French names were adopted into English vernacular, particularly among the nobility and landowners who sought to emphasize their heritage and status.
Historically, the name Orval is associated with various figures and places. One notable reference is the Abbey of Orval, founded in the 18th century in Belgium, which became known for its Trappist monks and the production of Orval beer.
The abbey's influence contributed to the name's recognition in religious and cultural contexts. Additionally, the name appears in various historical records and documents throughout the medieval period, often linked to land ownership and feudal titles, which were significant during the Middle Ages.
Culturally, Orval carries connotations of prosperity and natural beauty, resonating with themes of pastoral life and the idyllic qualities of rural landscapes. The name's association with a "golden valley" evokes imagery of fertile lands and abundance, which were highly valued in agrarian societies.
While diminutive forms of the name are less common, the phonetic structure lends itself to affectionate variations, though these are not historically prominent. Overall, Orval encapsulates a blend of linguistic heritage and cultural significance, reflecting the interplay between language, geography, and history.
Famous people named Orval
In this section, you will find notable people named Orval. We include individuals across a wide range of fields, including actors known for their work in film, television, and stage productions. You'll also find musicians, directors, and other public figures named Orval who have made a significant impact on popular culture.
We also feature individuals named Orval who have made meaningful contributions to science, politics, athletics, literature, and other areas of public interest.
Please note that not every baby name in our database currently has a famous namesake listed. If you would like to suggest a name we may have missed or submit a correction, feel free to contact us. We review and finalize additions and corrections within 24 hours.
Orval Redenbacher was an entrepreneur best known for his brand of popcorn.
Orval P. McGowan was a scientist best known for his work in the field of agriculture and plant breeding.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Orval, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.
Similar names
Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Orval. These names can serve as alternatives to the sibling suggestions listed above and may help you find the perfect complementary name for your growing family.
U.S. Historical Usage
The name Orval was first seen in the United States in 1880.
Orval has ranked as high as #703 nationally, which occurred in 1918, and has been most popular in Oklahoma, Missouri, Illinois, Texas, and Indiana.
In the past 5 years the name Orval has been trending up compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Orval is part of our comprehensive baby names database, which includes Social Security Administration (SSA) data dating back to 1880—the first official year of state and national tracking. The chart below shows when Orval was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.
Popularity Over Time (National) — Table
We track the national popularity of each baby name annually. The table below displays each year along with the number of births reported by the Social Security Administration. This data combines all state-level reporting from the SSA's baby names database to provide a comprehensive view of overall birth counts for Orval.
| Year | Total Births | Boy | Girl |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | 7 | 7 | 0 |
| 1993 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| 1992 | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| 1991 | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| 1987 | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| 1985 | 7 | 7 | 0 |
| 1984 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| 1983 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| 1981 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| 1980 | 7 | 7 | 0 |
| 1979 | 8 | 8 | 0 |
| 1978 | 7 | 7 | 0 |
| 1977 | 8 | 8 | 0 |
| 1976 | 12 | 12 | 0 |
| 1975 | 7 | 7 | 0 |
| 1974 | 9 | 9 | 0 |
| 1973 | 11 | 11 | 0 |
| 1972 | 8 | 8 | 0 |
| 1971 | 16 | 16 | 0 |
| 1970 | 17 | 17 | 0 |
| 1969 | 17 | 17 | 0 |
| 1968 | 9 | 9 | 0 |
| 1967 | 13 | 13 | 0 |
| 1966 | 19 | 19 | 0 |
| 1965 | 24 | 24 | 0 |
| 1964 | 25 | 25 | 0 |
| 1963 | 20 | 20 | 0 |
| 1962 | 17 | 17 | 0 |
| 1961 | 24 | 24 | 0 |
| 1960 | 44 | 44 | 0 |
| 1959 | 33 | 33 | 0 |
| 1958 | 32 | 32 | 0 |
| 1957 | 33 | 33 | 0 |
| 1956 | 39 | 39 | 0 |
| 1955 | 59 | 59 | 0 |
| 1954 | 45 | 45 | 0 |
| 1953 | 48 | 48 | 0 |
| 1952 | 53 | 53 | 0 |
| 1951 | 62 | 62 | 0 |
| 1950 | 57 | 57 | 0 |
| 1949 | 62 | 62 | 0 |
| 1948 | 69 | 69 | 0 |
| 1947 | 73 | 73 | 0 |
| 1946 | 79 | 79 | 0 |
| 1945 | 82 | 82 | 0 |
| 1944 | 82 | 82 | 0 |
| 1943 | 97 | 97 | 0 |
| 1942 | 120 | 120 | 0 |
| 1941 | 87 | 87 | 0 |
| 1940 | 100 | 100 | 0 |
| 1939 | 87 | 87 | 0 |
| 1938 | 93 | 93 | 0 |
| 1937 | 101 | 101 | 0 |
| 1936 | 103 | 103 | 0 |
| 1935 | 127 | 127 | 0 |
| 1934 | 130 | 130 | 0 |
| 1933 | 120 | 120 | 0 |
| 1932 | 136 | 136 | 0 |
| 1931 | 142 | 142 | 0 |
| 1930 | 174 | 174 | 0 |
| 1929 | 185 | 178 | 7 |
| 1928 | 152 | 152 | 0 |
| 1927 | 206 | 206 | 0 |
| 1926 | 230 | 230 | 0 |
| 1925 | 224 | 224 | 0 |
| 1924 | 242 | 242 | 0 |
| 1923 | 219 | 219 | 0 |
| 1922 | 272 | 272 | 0 |
| 1921 | 267 | 267 | 0 |
| 1920 | 294 | 294 | 0 |
| 1919 | 275 | 270 | 5 |
| 1918 | 304 | 304 | 0 |
| 1917 | 282 | 282 | 0 |
| 1916 | 280 | 280 | 0 |
| 1915 | 258 | 258 | 0 |
| 1914 | 192 | 192 | 0 |
| 1913 | 165 | 165 | 0 |
| 1912 | 141 | 141 | 0 |
| 1911 | 55 | 55 | 0 |
| 1910 | 57 | 57 | 0 |
| 1909 | 34 | 34 | 0 |
| 1908 | 49 | 49 | 0 |
| 1907 | 51 | 51 | 0 |
| 1906 | 28 | 28 | 0 |
| 1905 | 36 | 36 | 0 |
| 1904 | 29 | 29 | 0 |
| 1903 | 31 | 31 | 0 |
| 1902 | 42 | 42 | 0 |
| 1901 | 29 | 29 | 0 |
| 1900 | 36 | 36 | 0 |
| 1899 | 26 | 26 | 0 |
| 1898 | 20 | 20 | 0 |
| 1897 | 26 | 26 | 0 |
| 1896 | 19 | 19 | 0 |
| 1895 | 14 | 14 | 0 |
| 1894 | 19 | 19 | 0 |
| 1893 | 27 | 27 | 0 |
| 1892 | 31 | 31 | 0 |
| 1891 | 15 | 15 | 0 |
| 1890 | 26 | 26 | 0 |
| 1889 | 19 | 19 | 0 |
| 1888 | 14 | 14 | 0 |
| 1887 | 13 | 13 | 0 |
| 1886 | 15 | 15 | 0 |
| 1885 | 17 | 17 | 0 |
| 1884 | 16 | 16 | 0 |
| 1883 | 8 | 8 | 0 |
| 1882 | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| 1881 | 11 | 11 | 0 |
| 1880 | 22 | 22 | 0 |
Top States for Orval (1960)
We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. The table below shows the five states with the highest number of births for this name in the selected year. Use the toggle to expand the list to every state with reported births.
| State | Births | Share |
|---|---|---|
| MO | 7 | |
| WV | 5 |