Meaning & Origin
A male given name originating as a coinage.
Orville is a boy's and girl's baby name of Old French origin, possibly coined by novelist Fanny Burney for her novel Evelina (1778) or from an Old French place name meaning 'gold town' — forever associated with Orville Wright and the dawn of the aviation age.
With over 35,000 recorded births, Orville peaked in American popularity in the early 20th century, carried primarily by the fame of Orville Wright (1871–1948) — who, with his brother Wilbur, made the first successful powered airplane flight at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, on December 17, 1903. Those 12 seconds changed the world. Orville Redenbacher, the American popcorn magnate, gave the name its most delicious commercial association. A name that carries the spirit of American invention.