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 experienced a significant rise in popularity between the late 19th century and early 20th century, with a notable peak during World War I. From 1880 to 1900, there were an average of about 67 births per year; however, starting from 1903, this number began to increase dramatically, reaching over 475 births in 1920 at the height of the war.
Post-war, the popularity of the name Orville started to decline steadily, dropping below 100 births per year by 1936. This downward trend continued throughout the mid-20th century, with fewer than 50 births occurring annually between 1974 and 1998.
In recent years, the name has become quite rare, with less than 20 births recorded each year from 2000 to 2023. Overall, since 1880, there have been a total of 35,038 births named Orville.