Oval
An oval is a closed curve in a plane which resembles the outline of an egg. The term is not very specific, but in some areas of mathematics, it is given a more precise definition, which may include either one or two axes of symmetry of an ellipse. In common English, the term is used in a broader sense: any shape which reminds one of an egg.
Meaning & Origin of Oval
What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.
An oval is a closed curve in a plane which resembles the outline of an egg. The term is not very specific, but in some areas of mathematics, it is given a more precise definition, which may include either one or two axes of symmetry of an ellipse. In common English, the term is used in a broader sense: any shape which reminds one of an egg.
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →
The Story of Oval
As a girl name
American parents first put Oval on the record books as a girl name in 1898, with 5 registered babies. Its peak popularity came in 1920, when 10 Ovals were born — ranking #3,097 that year. The 1920s were its strongest decade, accounting for roughly 47% of all recorded Ovals. Its most recent appearance in the national data came in 1928 (6 births); the name has since faded from the published rankings. In total, more than 101 Ovals have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1890s through the 2020s.
As a boy name
The earliest SSA record of Oval as a boy name dates back to 1909, when 5 babies received it. 1920 was its biggest year on record, with 34 newborns named Oval — #1,234 in the national rankings. The 1920s were its strongest decade, accounting for roughly 37% of all recorded Ovals. Its most recent appearance in the national data came in 1952 (6 births); the name has since faded from the published rankings. In total, more than 500 Ovals have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1900s through the 2020s.
Popularity Over Time
Popularity by State
Names that sound like Oval
Phonetically similar names — useful when Oval is the vibe but a different syllable count or letter feel might suit better. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.
Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.
Frequently Asked Questions about Oval
What does the name Oval mean?
How popular is Oval in 2026?
When was Oval most popular?
In which U.S. states is Oval most popular?
Is Oval a unisex name?
What names go well with Oval?
About the name Oval
Oval is a unisex baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1909 and has accumulated 500 births in the dataset. Oval's peak popularity came in 1920 when it ranked #1,234. Use the chart and map above to compare Oval's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.
Continue exploring
- Top names of 1920 →
- Names of the 1920s →
- Names starting with "O" →
- Browse all boy names →
- Top names of 2026 →
- Browse unisex names →
Data sources
- Birth statistics (counts, ranks, years 1880–2026) — U.S. Social Security Administration . Predictions for years not yet released by SSA are computed by Peek a Name from historical trends; we update with official data as soon as it ships.
- Etymology, cultural origins, and related forms — Behind the Name (used under their public API terms).
- Meaning prose and editorial summary — Wikipedia article extracts, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 .
- Predicted nationality distribution — Nationalize.io .
- Phonetically similar names — Datamuse .
Peek a Name aggregates and presents the above data for informational purposes. Statistical predictions and external attributions are clearly labelled where shown; we make no guarantee of accuracy beyond what each source provides.