Orville: Name Popularity, History & Rankings (1880

Rank 2025

#6,347

among boys · ↑800 vs 2024

Babies in 2025

named Orville

How common

1 in 122,005

boys born in 2025

Peak year

1920

1,203 babies

All-time total

35,220

#616 all-time among boys

First recorded

1880

in Social Security records

Orville popularity over time

35,220 babies have been named Orville since 1880, according to official Social Security records. Switch measure to see births per year or the yearly rank.

Measure

Births per 1,000 babies of that sex, comparable across eras

BoysGirls

By decade. Change compares yearly averages, so the current partial decade is on equal footing. Best rank is the name's best yearly rank within the decade.

Decade	Girls	Boys	Total	Per year	Change	Best rank
1880s	–	615	615	62	–	#168
1890s	–	870	870	87	+41%	#146
1900s	–	1,365	1,365	137	+57%	#126
1910s	41	7,901	7,942	794	+482%	#120
1920s	84	9,722	9,806	981	+23%	#134
1930s	30	5,825	5,855	586	-40%	#187
1940s	–	3,845	3,845	385	-34%	#256
1950s	–	2,290	2,290	229	-40%	#416
1960s	–	1,184	1,184	118	-48%	#612
1970s	–	615	615	62	-48%	#874
1980s	–	319	319	32	-48%	#1,426
1990s	–	179	179	18	-44%	#2,536
2000s	–	132	132	13	-26%	#4,329
2010s	–	124	124	12	-6%	#5,061
2020s (to 2025)	–	79	79	13	+6%	#5,717

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.

How old are people named Orville?

The median living Orville is about 72 years old; half are between 60 and 82. An estimated 7,000 people named Orville are alive in the United States today.

Estimated from births per year and Social Security period life tables; an approximation of the living age distribution, by age in years.

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

Quick answers about Orville, drawn from the same Social Security data as the charts above.

How old is the average Orville?

The median living Orville is about 72 years old. Half of all living Orvilles are between 60 and 82 years old.

How many people named Orville are alive today?

An estimated 7,000 people named Orville are alive in the United States, based on 35,220 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

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.

Names like Orville

Names that sound and feel close to Orville: shared sounds, similar era, similar popularity. Each links to its full history.

Compare Orville with similar names → More names starting with O →