Norvil
An invented name, possibly derived from Norse names meaning "northerner" or "traveler".
Name Census estimates that about 12 living Americans carry the first name Norvil. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Norvil today is around 78 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Norvil births was 1923 (8 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Norvil. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
Key insights
- • The typical person named Norvil is about 78 years old today, placing it firmly among the names of earlier generations. Most living Norvils were born before 1958.
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Norvil. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
12
~ 1 in 28,562,862 Americans
Peak year
1923
8 babies that year
Average age
78
years old
1959 SSA rank
#3,879
Tracked since 1919
Popularity
Norvil: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Norvil from the 1910s through to the 1950s, spanning 4 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1920s, with 31 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 1920s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Norvil by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Norvil during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Origin
Meaning and history of Norvil
The given name Norvil is believed to have originated from the Old Norse language, which was spoken by the Germanic peoples in Scandinavia and other parts of northern Europe during the Viking Age, roughly between the 8th and 11th centuries. Its roots can be traced back to the words "nor" meaning "north" and "vill" meaning "will" or "desire," suggesting a connection to the northern regions and a strong-willed or determined character.
While its precise origins are shrouded in the mists of history, some scholars speculate that Norvil may have been a name borne by Norse warriors or seafarers who ventured forth with a strong will and a desire to explore the northern lands and waters. However, there is little concrete evidence of its use in ancient texts or historical records from that era.
The earliest recorded instances of the name Norvil can be found in medieval records from various parts of Europe, particularly in areas with strong Norse influences, such as Normandy in France and parts of England and Scotland. One of the earliest known individuals to bear this name was Norvil de Montfort, a Norman knight who lived in the 12th century and participated in the Third Crusade.
In later centuries, the name Norvil appeared sporadically throughout Europe, often associated with individuals of noble or notable lineage. One such figure was Norvil von Saxe-Coburg, a German prince born in 1678, who served as a military commander during the War of the Spanish Succession.
Another notable bearer of the name was Norvil Fitzwilliam, an English explorer and naturalist born in 1792, who embarked on several expeditions to the Americas and documented numerous plant and animal species previously unknown to science.
In the realm of literature, Norvil Haviland was a celebrated American novelist and playwright of the late 19th century, born in 1845. His works often explored themes of adventure and exploration, reflecting his own wanderlust and fascination with the natural world.
While the name Norvil has certainly been less common in modern times, it remains a unique and evocative moniker with deep historical roots, evoking a sense of northern heritage, strength of will, and a spirit of adventure and discovery.
People
Norvil + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Norvil as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with N
Other first names starting with N with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Norvil: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Norvil?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 12 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Norvil going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 28,562,862 US residents.
Is Norvil a common name?
We classify Norvil as "Very Rare". It ranks above 32.3% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 71 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Norvil most popular?
The single biggest year for Norvil was 1923, when 8 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Norvil is about 78 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
What does the SSA popularity chart show?
The chart tracks births, not the number of people alive with the name today. Each point shows how many babies were given the name Norvil in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Norvil a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Norvil in the SSA data are male. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Is Norvil still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Norvil in 2024, and the page above shows its latest-year rank where available. A name can be well past its peak and still remain in steady use, especially if it built up a large population over earlier decades.
Why can a name have a lot of living bearers even if it is not trendy now?
Because living-bearer counts and current baby-name popularity measure different things. A name like Norvil can build up a very large population over many decades, even if fewer parents are choosing it now than they did at its peak.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.
Does every first name have Census demographic data?
No. The public Census first-name release only covers names that met the Bureau's publication rules, so many rarer names in the SSA files do not have a published Census demographic snapshot. In those cases, the page still shows the SSA trend, gender history, and state data.
How common is the name Norvil?
HowManyOfMe.org, our sister site, answers that with the living-bearer count in one glance.