Ovell
Of uncertain origin, possibly a variant of the German name Ovel.
Name Census estimates that about 2 living Americans carry the first name Ovell. It appears on both sides of the gender split, with 68.0% of registrations being female. The average person named Ovell today is around 104 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Ovell births was 1919 (9 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Ovell. 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 Ovell is about 104 years old today, placing it firmly among the names of earlier generations. Most living Ovells were born before 1932.
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Ovell. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
2
~ 1 in 171,377,169 Americans
Peak year
1919
9 babies that year
Average age
104
years old
1935 SSA rank
#3,553
Tracked since 1910
Gender
Gender distribution for Ovell
Ovell is one of the more evenly split names in the SSA data. Of the 50 total registrations, 16 (32.0%) were male and 34 (68.0%) were female.
Ovell as a male name
- Ranked #3,553 in 1935
- 6 male births in 1935
- Peak: 1935 (6 births)
Ovell as a female name
- Ranked #5,088 in 1930
- 5 female births in 1930
- Peak: 1919 (9 births)
Popularity
Ovell: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Ovell from the 1910s through to the 1930s, spanning 3 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1910s, with 24 total registrations. Although the numbers have come down from the 1910s peak, Ovell remains solidly in use and shows no sign of disappearing from maternity wards.
Babies born per year
Decades
Ovell 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 Ovell during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Ovells live
Origin
Meaning and history of Ovell
The name Ovell is an uncommon given name with unclear origins. It is believed to have emerged from a blend of the Latin word "ovum," meaning "egg," and the French word "belle," meaning "beautiful." This combination suggests the name may have originated in regions where both Latin and French languages had influence, potentially in parts of Western Europe during the Middle Ages.
Ovell does not appear to have any direct connections to ancient texts, religious scriptures, or prominent historical records. However, its components carry symbolic meanings that may have contributed to its usage as a name. The egg has long been associated with fertility, rebirth, and the cycle of life in various cultures, while beauty has been revered as a desirable quality across civilizations.
The earliest recorded instances of the name Ovell are scarce, but a few notable individuals bearing this name can be found in historical records. One such person was Ovell Thurston (1797-1879), an American inventor and industrialist from Massachusetts. He is credited with inventing several machines used in the textile industry, contributing to the Industrial Revolution in the United States.
Another notable Ovell was Ovell Saye (1876-1961), a British architect who designed numerous public buildings and private residences in London during the early 20th century. His works were characterized by their Neo-Georgian and Arts and Crafts styles, reflecting the architectural trends of his time.
In the realm of literature, Ovell Woodman (1903-1988) was an American author and educator. He wrote several novels and short stories, many of which explored themes of small-town life and the struggles of the working class.
On the international stage, Ovell Njouha (1932-2008) was a Cameroonian diplomat and politician. He served as the Ambassador of Cameroon to various countries, including the United States, and played a crucial role in shaping his country's foreign policies during the latter half of the 20th century.
Lastly, Ovell Jackson (1944-2018) was an American blues singer and guitarist from Mississippi. He gained recognition for his soulful voice and virtuosic guitar playing, carrying on the rich tradition of Delta blues music.
These individuals, spanning different eras and professions, exemplify the diversity of individuals who have borne the name Ovell throughout history, leaving their mark in various fields and contributing to the tapestry of human achievement.
People
Ovell + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Ovell as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with O
Other first names starting with O with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Ovell: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Ovell?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 2 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Ovell 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 171,377,169 US residents.
Is Ovell a common name?
We classify Ovell as "Very Rare". It ranks above 4.3% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 50 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Ovell most popular?
The single biggest year for Ovell was 1919, when 9 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Ovell is about 104 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 Ovell in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Ovell a female name?
Yes, 68.0% of people registered as Ovell in the SSA data are female. 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 Ovell still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Ovell 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 Ovell 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 many Americans are named Ovell?
HowManyOfMe.org, our sister site, answers that with the living-bearer count in one glance.