Opal

[ButterRose]

Opinions on the first name Opal please is it to old fashioned or could it work? It reminds me of my grandmother who means a great deal to me but I've never heard it as a 'younger' name except for one lady in her 90s I've actually never heard it at all .....

I think jewel names are pretty perennial. Opal is a beautiful one.

Vauxhall is known as Opel in the EU.

Jewel names don't really work at all. Ruby and Jade are probably the only ones.

Sapphire, Crystal, Diamond, Emerald, Topaz, Onyx, Garnet, Peridot, Amethyst, Turquoise. None of them work as a first name for a child. They all sound like hookers or horses... Opal is not great. As has been said, whilst an opal is a beautiful stone, most people won't think of that, they will think of chewy sweets, or a car manufacturer.

What about Pearl, @PrettyMaybug? Beryl doesn't sound like a stripper or a horse!
Opal is very pretty I think. Easy to say/spell and lovely family connection.

It immediately says bad luck to me.

Oh do give over.

Pearl? Is the baby going to be born 85 years old?

And Beryl? REALLY? Come on! Who the F would call their baby daughter BERYL FFS?!

I do immediately think of opal fruits, but I wouldn't say that's necessarily bad.

It has a pleasing sound, Opal.

If it had been my grandmothers name, I would use it for a daughter.

...edited to add - I think it has a pleasing sound, but that'll depend on your accent.

I wouldn't have thought of the 'opeless connotation that previous posters have mentioned, but I guess that's something that will depend on your local accent.

Love!

Opal = Oh Paul

I'm mid 30s, they were opal fruits when I was young!

I think this is a beautiful name. Go for it if you love it.

I immediately thought 'fruits' but Opal Fruits are rather yummy, so it's not like you are connecting with something bad.

I mean, it's not to my taste, but not a lot of the currently popular names are

I love it. It's nice and unusual but pretty and strong too. I love opals too.

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And now I have that tune as an ear worm!

Not keen myself. My friend called her adult daughter it. Every time she talks about Opal I know it sounds strange but I just don't think of it as someone's name, it sounds to me as if you could be taking about food or a item of furniture.. the opal is undercooked, please take it back or my opal goes well with my new rug 😁

It's beautiful!

Prefer Pearl

Beautiful name - especially with the family connection!

I’m in my 30s and would still make the Opal Fruit connection. It’s not dreadful but middle name territory for me (just watch the initials with a vowel middle).