Orville is a name of French origin that has been used primarily for boys since the Middle Ages. It comes from the Germanic elements "ari" meaning "noble" or "eagle", and "wulf" meaning "wolf". Therefore, Orville can be translated as "Noble Wolf".
The name Orville gained popularity in the United States during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. One of the reasons for this is that it was the given name of American aviation pioneers Orville Wright (1871-1948) and his brother Wilbur (1867-1912). The Wright brothers are famous for inventing and building the world's first successful airplane, and making the first controlled, powered and sustained heavier-than-air human flight on December 17, 1903.
In literature, Orville is also the name of a character in "The Wind in the Willows" by Kenneth Grahame. Orville, also known as The Mole, is one of the main characters in this classic children's book, first published in 1908.
Today, Orville remains an uncommon but distinctive name choice for boys, with its unique sound and historical significance continuing to attract parents seeking a distinctive name for their child.
The name Orville has seen a varied trend in popularity over the years in the United States, with several peaks and valleys. In the late 19th century, there was an average of about 60 births per year with the name Orville. However, beginning in 1909, there was a significant increase in the number of newborns named Orville, reaching a peak of 477 births in 1912.
This popularity continued to rise throughout World War I, with over 1000 births per year from 1915 to 1918. However, after the war, the name's popularity began to decline, falling below 300 births per year by 1924.
In the mid-20th century, Orville was given to around 200-300 newborns per year in the United States. But starting in the late 1950s and continuing into the 1960s, there was another decline in popularity, with fewer than 200 births per year.
Since then, Orville has remained relatively uncommon as a baby name, with fewer than 30 births per year on average. Despite this decline in popularity, it's still possible to find people named Orville today, and the name holds historical significance due to its past popularity and the notable individuals who have borne it throughout history.
In total, from 1880 to 2023, there were 35,038 births of boys named Orville in the United States.