Orville
Invented by Fanny Burney for the hero of her novel Evelina.
Every Orville since 1880 — 35,220 of them. Popularity, births, and rankings for each year, from official Social Security records.
The story of Orville
Orville is rare for boys in the United States, ranked #6,347 in 2025 with 14 babies given the name. It is currently holding steady compared with a decade ago.
Since 1880, 35,220 American babies have been named Orville. Its peak came in 1920, when 1,203 newborns received the name — the signature sound of the 1920s.
The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Orville stood among all boys' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.
Orville year by year
Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.
| Year | Girls | Girls rank | Boys | Boys rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | — | — | 14 | #6,347 |
| 2024 | — | — | 12 | #7,147 |
| 2023 | — | — | 12 | #7,184 |
| 2022 | — | — | 13 | #6,738 |
| 2021 | — | — | 16 | #5,717 |
| 2020 | — | — | 12 | #6,925 |
| 2019 | — | — | 17 | #5,504 |
| 2018 | — | — | 11 | #7,486 |
| 2017 | — | — | 19 | #5,061 |
| 2016 | — | — | 13 | #6,624 |
| 2015 | — | — | 12 | #6,976 |
| 2014 | — | — | 17 | #5,420 |
| 2013 | — | — | 13 | #6,514 |
| 2012 | — | — | 7 | #10,472 |
| 2011 | — | — | 9 | #8,589 |
| 2010 | — | — | 6 | #11,804 |
| 2009 | — | — | 13 | #6,716 |
| 2008 | — | — | 16 | #5,696 |
| 2007 | — | — | 9 | #8,723 |
| 2006 | — | — | 14 | #6,012 |
| 2005 | — | — | 9 | #8,126 |
| 2004 | — | — | 11 | #6,858 |
| 2003 | — | — | 12 | #6,157 |
| 2002 | — | — | 18 | #4,450 |
| 2001 | — | — | 12 | #5,926 |
| 2000 | — | — | 18 | #4,329 |
| 1995 | — | — | 26 | #2,823 |
| 1990 | — | — | 27 | #2,536 |
| 1985 | — | — | 34 | #1,781 |
| 1980 | — | — | 45 | #1,426 |
| 1975 | — | — | 71 | #980 |
| 1970 | — | — | 86 | #874 |
| 1965 | — | — | 101 | #738 |
| 1960 | — | — | 155 | #629 |
| 1955 | — | — | 196 | #524 |
| 1950 | — | — | 263 | #416 |
| 1945 | — | — | 332 | #326 |
| 1940 | — | — | 461 | #256 |
| 1935 | — | — | 581 | #208 |
| 1930 | 9 | #3,266 | 747 | #187 |
| 1925 | 11 | #3,074 | 940 | #161 |
| 1920 | 8 | #3,873 | 1,195 | #134 |
| 1915 | 7 | #3,706 | 1,076 | #127 |
| 1910 | — | — | 223 | #142 |
| 1905 | — | — | 125 | #163 |
| 1900 | — | — | 112 | #186 |
| 1895 | — | — | 92 | #170 |
| 1890 | — | — | 88 | #162 |
| 1885 | — | — | 79 | #168 |
| 1880 | — | — | 49 | #239 |
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Orville mean?
Invented by Fanny Burney for the hero of her novel Evelina.
How popular is the name Orville in 2025?
Orville ranked #6,347 among boys' names in the United States in 2025, with 14 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
How many people are named Orville?
35,220 babies have been named Orville in the United States since 1880, based on Social Security card applications.
When was the name Orville most popular?
Orville peaked in 1920, when 1,203 newborns received the name.
Is Orville a boy or girl name?
Orville is overwhelmingly a boy's name — 100% of babies with the name.
Is the name Orville rising or falling?
Orville has been roughly stable over the past decade.