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Norval

♂ Boy

How to Pronounce Norval

Pronounced NOR-vul /ˈnɔr.vəl/High

Meaning: Norval is a Scottish surname and place-name meaning 'from the north valley' (north + val), popularized as a first name in part by the noble hero Norval in John Home's eighteenth-century play Douglas. It reads as a sturdy surname-name.Medium

In 30 seconds: Norval means 'from the north valley' (said 'NOR-vul') — a solid Scottish surname-name.

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Origin MediumScottish, English

MeaningNorval is a Scottish surname and place-name meaning 'from the north valley' (north + val), popularized as a first name in part by the noble hero Norval in John Home's eighteenth-century play Douglas. It reads as a sturdy surname-name.

U.S. rank (1981)#4398 ↗ Rising

1981 U.S. births9 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)

Peak year1918

Total births (all-time)≈ 2,377

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Norval is a Scottish surname and place-name combining 'north' with 'valley' — 'the north valley.' Its use as a given name owes something to the noble shepherd-hero Norval in John Home's tragedy Douglas, a stage staple for generations. It was established in the U.S. by 1880, peaked in 1918, and had faded by the early 1980s.

A boy named Norval at its 1918 peak would be well over a century old, a great-grandfather-era name. It has the plainspoken dignity of early-century surname-names like Norman and Percival; Canadian artist Norval Morrisseau is a notable bearer. It reads distinctly vintage and has not revived, though its clean 'north valley' meaning gives it quiet appeal.

Did you know? Norval got a romantic boost from the stage: the young hero of the popular 1750s tragedy Douglas was named Norval, and the role was a favorite of nineteenth-century actors.

Overall data confidence 68%

References — Norval — Scottish 'north valley'; hero of the play Douglas

Variations

NorvelNorvilNorvall

Nicknames

NorvVal

Famous Bearers

★Norval Morrisseau (1932–2007)
Canadian Anishinaabe artist regarded as a founder of the Woodlands School of painting.

If you like Norval…

Norman— a like Nor- early-century classic

Norris— a same-era Scottish/English surname-name

Orval— a rhyming vintage -val name

Percival— a like romantic surname-name of the period

Explore names like Norval

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Norval mean?

Norval is a Scottish surname and place-name meaning 'from the north valley.'

How do you pronounce Norval?

It's said NOR-vul /ˈnɔr.vəl/ — two syllables, stress on the first.

Is Norval a boy or girl name?

Norval is used as a boy's name.

How popular is Norval?

Norval was an early-twentieth-century name that peaked in the nineteen-tens and has been rare since.