Topaz

Greek gem name

Topaz Origin and Meaning

The name Topaz is a girl's name of Greek origin.

As a name, Topaz is a quietly used option, with a distinctive ending and a sleek but sassy feel. As a golden gemstone, it is said to have energizing properties and bring good luck to those who wear it. It is also the the birthstone for November, making it an ideal choice for a spirited November baby.

While the exact etymology is unknown, it is believed to come from Topázios or Topázion, the ancient name for what is now known as St. John's Island in the Red Sea. A yellow stone was once mined from there, and while it is now believed to be chrysolite, the name may have attached itself to the gemstone. An alternative theory is that it comes from tapas, a Sanskrit word meaning "heat" or "fire", which may relate to its golden hue, or to the fact it changes color when heated.

Also believed to protect against dark magic and encourage healing and love, Topaz appears in an eponymous novel by Leon Uris, later made into a 1969 Hitchcock movie, in which Topaz was the name not of a person but a spy code name. There are are however characters called Topaz in Dodie Smith's novel I Capture the Castle, in the animated series Trollz, in the Marvel comic book of the same name, and in the show Steven Universe.

In the US, there have never been more than 20 Topazes born in a single year, making it a rare gem among Sapphires, Pearls, Rubies, and Opals. 

Popularity of the name Topaz

• 1897 Nameberry 2024

20 Names Similar to Topaz

These 20 names were selected by our users that were looking for other names like Topaz.

• December
• Lotus
• Velvet
• Gemini
• Mahogany
• Cinnamon
• Cloud
• Hydra
• Lapis
• Diablo
• Orchid
• Silver
• Bambi
• Cayenne
• Wolf
• Cinder
• Koko
• Aqua
• Swan
• Symphony

Famous People Named Topaz

• Princess Topazia Alliata di Salaparuta (1913 2015), Sicilian painter

The name Topaz in Pop Culture

• Topaz one of the main characters in the children's TV show "Trollz"
• "She claims to have been christened Topaz. Even if this is true there is no law to make a woman stick to a name like that." [Dodie Smith, "I Capture the Castle," 1948]
• Topaz character in "Sonic X"
• Topaz character in Marvel Universe