Oni
An oni is a kind of yōkai, demon, orc, ogre, or troll in Japanese folklore. They are believed to live in caves, deep within mountains, or in hell. Oni are known for their superhuman strength and have been associated with powers like thunder and lightning, along with their evil nature manifesting in their propensity for murder and cannibalism.
Meaning & Origin of Oni
What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.
An oni is a kind of yōkai, demon, orc, ogre, or troll in Japanese folklore. They are believed to live in caves, deep within mountains, or in hell. Oni are known for their superhuman strength and have been associated with powers like thunder and lightning, along with their evil nature manifesting in their propensity for murder and cannibalism.
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →
The Story of Oni
Oni first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a baby girl name in 1973, with 6 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 2020, when 17 Onis were born — ranking #6,626 that year. As of 2026, Oni ranks #10,089 for baby girls with 5 births, falling sharply (-55%). In total, more than 280 Onis have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1970s through the 2020s.
Popularity Over Time
Popularity by State
Names that sound like Oni
Phonetically similar names — useful when Oni 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 Oni
What does the name Oni mean?
How popular is Oni in 2026?
When was Oni most popular?
Is Oni a unisex name?
What names go well with Oni?
About the name Oni
Oni is a girl baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1973 and has accumulated 280 births in the dataset. Oni's peak popularity came in 2020 when it ranked #5,544. Use the chart and map above to compare Oni's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.
Continue exploring
- Top names of 2020 →
- Names of the 2020s →
- Names starting with "O" →
- Browse all girl names →
- Top names of 2026 →
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.