New Post
Search
Help[Opinions] Opal
What do you think of the name Opal? Do you prefer it as a first or middle name?
I'm rather fond of Opal Athena, Opal Rosalie, Opal Eloise and Opal Veronica at the moment. Mind sharing your opinion on them?
Thanks!
Notes: Removed Opal Marietta and added Opal Eloise and Opal Veronica. Thanks, Joiya and Flora!
http://www.babynames.com/namelist/9852886
I'm rather fond of Opal Athena, Opal Rosalie, Opal Eloise and Opal Veronica at the moment. Mind sharing your opinion on them?
Thanks!
Notes: Removed Opal Marietta and added Opal Eloise and Opal Veronica. Thanks, Joiya and Flora!
http://www.babynames.com/namelist/9852886
This message was edited 3/9/2015, 6:19 PM
Archived Thread - replies disabled
1
Replies
Love it. Favorite gemstone name.
I think it's better as a middle name but it depends.
I think it's better as a middle name but it depends.
1
I like Opal because I associate it with a book I liked growing up called Because of Winn-Dixie. It was the protagonist's middle name. Her name was India Opal, but she went by Opal. I don't think I'd use Opal personally, but I wouldn't mind meeting a young Opal.
I like:
Opal Eloise
Opal Athena - I like the flow, but I think the two names together are a bit much for a real person.
I like:
Opal Eloise
Opal Athena - I like the flow, but I think the two names together are a bit much for a real person.
This message was edited 3/11/2015, 12:07 PM
1
I used to love that book when I was about 10 or so. I can't believe I forgot her name!
1
Hm. I can see how that might be an issue with some accents. I know with mine it's not so I didn't even think of it.
Maybe using it as a middle name would be a better option in some cases!
Maybe using it as a middle name would be a better option in some cases!
1
I've been going through the name database here because I'm revamping my list, and recently came across Opal again. It struck me as being quirky and pretty in an unusual way. I'm not sure if I'm going to add it to my list just yet, but it would certainly make for an unexpected gemstone name. I think the stones themselves are really pretty, too. I think it would work either as a first or middle name.
Opal Athena is regal and beautiful.
Opal Rosalie is not quite as successful for me- it is overly girly and lacks strength.
Opal Eloise is rather melodic.
Opal Veronica is a nice balance between cuteness and strength.
Opal Athena is regal and beautiful.
Opal Rosalie is not quite as successful for me- it is overly girly and lacks strength.
Opal Eloise is rather melodic.
Opal Veronica is a nice balance between cuteness and strength.
1
That's the same way I see Opal. It's a bit quirky, but old fashioned and pretty. It fits within that O-name trend as well as being a nature name. It's kind of everything I love. Well, I was never big on the O-trend but you know...
Opal Rosalie has been giving me problems lately as well. It seems less sturdy than the other names.
Thanks so much!
Opal Rosalie has been giving me problems lately as well. It seems less sturdy than the other names.
Thanks so much!
1
I don't like it. I find the look and sound of it unattractive.
I like opals. But, generally, I find jewels as names to be a bit tacky.
I like opals. But, generally, I find jewels as names to be a bit tacky.
1
Opal is another one of those names where I love the idea so much more than the reality - in this case, I love the gem (and the image of the gem in my mind) associated with the word much more than I would actually like being called it. Opal, like Lilith, is genuinely difficult for me to say at times (the -pal part, in my accent, often seems slurred).
While opals and pearls are probably my favorite stones, Pearl I can envision myself using as a middle name at least. Opal... not so much.
While opals and pearls are probably my favorite stones, Pearl I can envision myself using as a middle name at least. Opal... not so much.
1
I don't like jewel names in general - cold, hard and with a strange, inhuman glitter - and Opal really doesn't sound in the least attractive to me, and also very dated. Though if I had the chance, I'd fill my jewel box with genuine opals!
Another problem where I live is that Opal sounds pretty close to an Afrikaans expression meaning Buddy or Mate.
Another problem where I live is that Opal sounds pretty close to an Afrikaans expression meaning Buddy or Mate.
1
Ou (sounds like Oh) means Old, and is used in the same way that Old is in expressions like Old chap, Old boy etc. And the Pal bit is the English word 'pal', but with an Afrikaans/dialectal pronunciation, hard to pin down but the vowel sound in air, where etc is actually a diphthong, pretty much an e with a neutral vowel following it. OK? So you'd use that e instead of the a in Pal. Pel, or even Pyel, but most usually as a friendly diminutive: ou pellie.
I wish I could use the IPA in this program ...
I wish I could use the IPA in this program ...
1
That's really interesting and something to think about. Thank you!
1
I don't like Opal, though I like many jewel names. It's just an ugly sound.
1
It happens. Thanks for the honesty!
1
Ugly.
Ugly, old lady, red neck and tacky.
Ugly, old lady, red neck and tacky.
1
There would be no fun in names if we all liked the same ones. :)
Thanks!
Thanks!
1
That's why I like Opal, for it's warm and friendly sound. I can see what you mean about it being "dopey" and "round" though.
Thanks!
Thanks!
1
Opal is nice, I prefer Opaline, but that's just me.
Opal Athena is hard for me to say.
Opal Rosalie is my fave of those, but Marietta is pretty too.
Ever thought of using Opal as a boy's name in the middle name? Who says gems can only be girls names... sorry just being a little silly. I am a writer, i was just being open minded, if you like Opal for a girl, good for you...
Opal Athena is hard for me to say.
Opal Rosalie is my fave of those, but Marietta is pretty too.
Ever thought of using Opal as a boy's name in the middle name? Who says gems can only be girls names... sorry just being a little silly. I am a writer, i was just being open minded, if you like Opal for a girl, good for you...
1
I think Opal is one of my favorite jewel names. It's very elegant and sparkly.
I think it works nicely as a first or a middle name, but my feeling is it's the kind of name that if you're going to use it at all, it should be the star, and the middle name should be something fairly simple and not overly flashy.
I think it works nicely as a first or a middle name, but my feeling is it's the kind of name that if you're going to use it at all, it should be the star, and the middle name should be something fairly simple and not overly flashy.
1
I can see your point but I feel like if I combo Opal with a more simple or common name she is dulled into an old lady name instead of being seen as the beautiful jewel name she is. Of course, I may just be using the wrong names!
1
I like Opal. It's warm and weird. I like it as both a first and middle name - it's a nice, unexpected pick in either case. I do think of "Opples and ba-no-noes" like from the children's song, but I still find it a really satisfying name. I'd love to know a person named Opal.
Opal Athena is baroquely gorgeous. So creamy-beautiful and imperious - it's my favourite out of your creations. Opal Rosalie I find less pleasing, I think because of the similarity of sounds in the start of both names - Opa- and Rosa-. Opal Rosaline (ROZ-a-lyne) would be better to my ear. Opal Marietta is fun - it makes me think of the word operetta, which is a fun, dramatic word, and the combo has a really nice blue-black-and-white palette. Opal Anais is a bit cold and lacking in personality - too many vowels, I think. It's like nothing is holding the combo together.
Opal Athena is baroquely gorgeous. So creamy-beautiful and imperious - it's my favourite out of your creations. Opal Rosalie I find less pleasing, I think because of the similarity of sounds in the start of both names - Opa- and Rosa-. Opal Rosaline (ROZ-a-lyne) would be better to my ear. Opal Marietta is fun - it makes me think of the word operetta, which is a fun, dramatic word, and the combo has a really nice blue-black-and-white palette. Opal Anais is a bit cold and lacking in personality - too many vowels, I think. It's like nothing is holding the combo together.
1
I had completely forgotten about that song. That's a connection I'd never have made myself.
Opal Athena is by far the best of the combos in my thinking but I didn't want to exclude my other ones in case another received better feedback. I can see the issue with Opal Rosalie after you pointed it out. It doesn't have as pleasing of a sound. Opal Anais has been removed because it does lack personality in comparison to the other names.
Thank you!
Opal Athena is by far the best of the combos in my thinking but I didn't want to exclude my other ones in case another received better feedback. I can see the issue with Opal Rosalie after you pointed it out. It doesn't have as pleasing of a sound. Opal Anais has been removed because it does lack personality in comparison to the other names.
Thank you!
1
I don't consider myself a superstitious person, but whenever I see Opal, I can't help but think of the bad luck the stone apparently brings. It is a beautiful and most interesting stone and I can appreciate the name for it's unusual sound and aesthetic, but it almost seems unusable and kind of out there to me.
In regards to your combinations, and disregarding the above, I think Opal Athena is darling, as is Opal Rosalie. Opal Marietta seems like a brand name to me and Opal Anais feels a little flimsy for some reason.
In regards to your combinations, and disregarding the above, I think Opal Athena is darling, as is Opal Rosalie. Opal Marietta seems like a brand name to me and Opal Anais feels a little flimsy for some reason.
1
Actually, Opals are supposed to represent very powerful good luck.
I think there was a novel written about a guy who wore an opal, and it was cursed by bad holy water (or something) and became a talisman of death. It was a popular novel sometime in the 1800s and maybe that is where the theory of bad luck comes from.
Originally however, Opals were supposed to be more powerful than all the gemstomes because they included all of the colors in the spectrum. From what I remember, it is supposed to be especially good luck in terms of fertility and health. And... there was an old superstition that if you wrapped an opal in bay leaves and carried it with you - you would be invisible to your enemies (not sure what I remember that from).
In any case - i am in favor of the Opal... as a gem and a name.
In fact, I would go so far to say that it is my favorite gem name. While I sincerely love Pearl - Opal has so much more personality and cutesy-ness. Huge fan. If it matched Clarisse I would totally consider it. Unfortunately... Opal is Opalo in tagalog (a male name)... so I couldn't even use it as a middle, and we are sticking to Perlas.
I really like Opal Rosalie of your list, and I like the sound of Opal Marietta... but feel like there are so many other options out there that sound better with Opal.
Some that catch my fancy - and maybe yours:
Opal Adelaide
Opal Faustine
Opal Genevieve
Opal Zenaide
Opal Veronique
Opal Rosaleen
Opal Celestine
Opal Celeste
Opal Heloise or Opal Eloise
I think there was a novel written about a guy who wore an opal, and it was cursed by bad holy water (or something) and became a talisman of death. It was a popular novel sometime in the 1800s and maybe that is where the theory of bad luck comes from.
Originally however, Opals were supposed to be more powerful than all the gemstomes because they included all of the colors in the spectrum. From what I remember, it is supposed to be especially good luck in terms of fertility and health. And... there was an old superstition that if you wrapped an opal in bay leaves and carried it with you - you would be invisible to your enemies (not sure what I remember that from).
In any case - i am in favor of the Opal... as a gem and a name.
In fact, I would go so far to say that it is my favorite gem name. While I sincerely love Pearl - Opal has so much more personality and cutesy-ness. Huge fan. If it matched Clarisse I would totally consider it. Unfortunately... Opal is Opalo in tagalog (a male name)... so I couldn't even use it as a middle, and we are sticking to Perlas.
I really like Opal Rosalie of your list, and I like the sound of Opal Marietta... but feel like there are so many other options out there that sound better with Opal.
Some that catch my fancy - and maybe yours:
Opal Adelaide
Opal Faustine
Opal Genevieve
Opal Zenaide
Opal Veronique
Opal Rosaleen
Opal Celestine
Opal Celeste
Opal Heloise or Opal Eloise
1
That's really nice. I should do a bit of research into it myself. I love the idea that opals were supposed to represent good luck.
I agree that Opal is cuter than Pearl. Though I do love Pearl.
Opal Faustine is gorgeous and would be added to my list if not for a family friend with the surname Foust.
Opal Eloise is adorable!
I agree that Opal is cuter than Pearl. Though I do love Pearl.
Opal Faustine is gorgeous and would be added to my list if not for a family friend with the surname Foust.
Opal Eloise is adorable!
1
That's really interesting. I had no idea opals were thought to bring bad luck! I just think of the beautiful colors and it's warm sound.
Thank you!
Thank you!
1
They're not bad luck if you're born in October! (Like me, haha.)
1
It's very likely that I'm in the minority in thinking of those connotations, so please don't let me put you off. It's just something I read about as a young and superstitious child and it's always stuck with me, I think because I found it so unfortunate that such a pretty name had those connotations. I could definitely grow to love it if a knew an Opal of any age.
1
No worries, it doesn't put me off it. I can absolutely understand how those things stick with a person and I'm glad you shared. It's good to know in case I were ever to use it.
1