Orval

♂ Boy

Pronounced OR-vuhl /ˈɔːr.vəl/Medium

Meaning: A variant spelling of Orville, from an Old French place name usually read as 'gold town' (or 'gold estate'). It rode the early-century fame of aviation pioneer Orville Wright.Low

In 30 seconds: A plainspoken old name: Orval restyles Orville ('gold town'), said 'OR-vuhl.' Early-century and rustic.

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Origin LowFrench

MeaningA variant spelling of Orville, from an Old French place name usually read as 'gold town' (or 'gold estate'). It rode the early-century fame of aviation pioneer Orville Wright.

U.S. rank (1995)#7576 ↗ Rising

1995 U.S. births7 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)

Peak year1918

Total births (all-time)≈ 7,915

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

Orval respells Orville, from an Old French place name read as 'gold town.' Popular in the early 20th century — the age of aviators Orville and Wilbur Wright — it peaked in 1918 and steadily faded (said 'OR-vuhl').

Orval belonged to the early-century generation and is seldom heard today. Rare, rustic, and vintage.

Did you know? Orval is a trimmed spelling of Orville ('gold town') from the Wright-brothers era; it peaked around 1918 and has faded to rarity since.

Overall data confidence 45%

References — Orval — Variant of Orville; Old French 'gold town'

Variations

OrvilleOrvelOrvil

Nicknames

OrvVal

Famous Bearers

Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Orval…

Orville— the name it respells

Wilbur— a like aviation-era name

Orvin— a like rustic vintage name

Delbert— a like rustic vintage pick

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By themevintage 1910s french-rooted

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Orval mean?

Orval is a variant of Orville, from an Old French place name meaning 'gold town.'

How do you pronounce Orval?

It's said OR-vuhl /ˈɔːr.vəl/ — two syllables, stress on the first.

Is Orval a boy or girl name?

Orval is used here as a boy's name.

How popular is Orval?

Orval peaked around nineteen-eighteen and is very rare today.