Boy · #12,243 in 2026

Oneill

The O'Neill dynasty are a lineage of Irish Gaelic origin that held prominent positions and titles in Ireland and elsewhere. As kings of Cenél nEógain, they were historically one of the most prominent family of the Northern Uí Néill, along with the O'Donnell dynasty.

Current Rank
#12,243
Peak Rank
#8,802 (2010)
Total Babies
87
5-Yr Trend
Stable
1918
First Year
2017
Last Year
2010
Peak Year
#8802
Peak Rank
87
Total Count
16
Years Active

Meaning & Origin of Oneill

What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.

The O'Neill dynasty are a lineage of Irish Gaelic origin that held prominent positions and titles in Ireland and elsewhere. As kings of Cenél nEógain, they were historically one of the most prominent family of the Northern Uí Néill, along with the O'Donnell dynasty.

Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →

The Story of Oneill

American parents first put Oneill on the record books as a baby boy name in 1918, with 5 registered babies. Its peak popularity came in 2010, when 8 Oneills were born — ranking #8,802 that year. About 30% of every Oneill on record arrived during the 1980s, its defining decade. Oneill last appeared in the published SSA data in 2017, with 5 recorded births — it has not charted nationally since. All told, over 87 Americans have carried the name since 1880, from the 1910s to the 2020s.

Popularity Over Time

Popularity by State

ME
WA
MT
ND
MN
WI
MI
NY
VT
NH
MA
OR
ID
SD
IA
IL
IN
OH
PA
NJ
CT
RI
CA
NV
WY
NE
MO
KY
WV
VA
MD
DE
DC
UT
CO
KS
AR
TN
NC
SC
AK
AZ
NM
OK
LA
MS
AL
GA
HI
TX
FL
Top 10
11-50
51-100
101-500
500+
No data

Names that sound like Oneill

Phonetically similar names — useful when Oneill is the vibe but a different syllable count or letter feel might suit better. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.

Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.

Frequently Asked Questions about Oneill

What does the name Oneill mean?
The O'Neill dynasty are a lineage of Irish Gaelic origin that held prominent positions and titles in Ireland and elsewhere. As kings of Cenél nEógain, they were historically one of the most prominent family of the Northern Uí Néill, along with the O'Donnell dynasty.
How popular is Oneill in 2026?
In 2026, Oneill ranks #12,243 among boys' names in the U.S., with 5 babies given the name that year.
When was Oneill most popular?
Oneill reached its peak popularity in 2010, ranking #8,802 that year with 8 babies given the name.
In which U.S. states is Oneill most popular?
Oneill has historically been most popular in Puerto Rico. Rankings vary year to year, but these states show the strongest concentration of births named Oneill.
Is Oneill a unisex name?
In U.S. Social Security records, Oneill is primarily a boy's name. We don't have meaningful data for it as a girl's name.
What names go well with Oneill?
Names that share a similar style or popularity range with Oneill include Jeromiah, Cavell, Jino. These pairings are based on rank proximity and naming era in U.S. data.

About the name Oneill

Oneill is a boy baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1918 and has accumulated 87 births in the dataset. Oneill's peak popularity came in 2010 when it ranked #8,802. Use the chart and map above to compare Oneill's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.

Continue exploring

Data sources

  • Birth statistics (counts, ranks, years 1880–2026) — U.S. Social Security Administration . Predictions for years not yet released by SSA are computed by Peek a Name from historical trends; we update with official data as soon as it ships.
  • Etymology, cultural origins, and related forms — Behind the Name (used under their public API terms).
  • Meaning prose and editorial summary — Wikipedia article extracts, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 .
  • Predicted nationality distribution — Nationalize.io .
  • Phonetically similar names — Datamuse .

Peek a Name aggregates and presents the above data for informational purposes. Statistical predictions and external attributions are clearly labelled where shown; we make no guarantee of accuracy beyond what each source provides.