Onyx
Onyx is a typically black-and-white banded variety of agate, a silicate mineral. The bands can also be monochromatic with alternating light and dark bands. Sardonyx is a variety with red to brown bands alternated with black or white bands. The name "onyx" is also frequently used for level-banded (parallel-banded) agates, but in proper usage it refers to color pattern not band structure.
- English
Meaning & Origin of Onyx
What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.
Onyx is a typically black-and-white banded variety of agate, a silicate mineral. The bands can also be monochromatic with alternating light and dark bands. Sardonyx is a variety with red to brown bands alternated with black or white bands. The name "onyx" is also frequently used for level-banded (parallel-banded) agates, but in proper usage it refers to color pattern not band structure.
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →
Cultural Origins (via Behind the Name)
- English
Etymology
The Story of Onyx
As a girl name
The earliest SSA record of Onyx as a girl name dates back to 1918, when 5 babies received it. 2026 was its biggest year on record, with 209 newborns named Onyx — #1,152 in the national rankings. The 2020s were its strongest decade, accounting for roughly 61% of all recorded Onyxs. In the latest 2026 data it stands at #1,152 among girl names with 209 births, rising sharply (+81% over the past five years). In total, more than 2K Onyxs have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1910s through the 2020s.
As a boy name
The earliest SSA record of Onyx as a boy name dates back to 1990, when 6 babies received it. 2026 was its biggest year on record, with 1,143 newborns named Onyx — #292 in the national rankings. The 2020s were its strongest decade, accounting for roughly 78% of all recorded Onyxs. In the latest 2026 data it stands at #292 among boy names with 1,143 births, rising sharply (+161% over the past five years). In total, more than 8K Onyxs have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1990s through the 2020s.
Popularity Over Time
Popularity by State
Names that sound like Onyx
Phonetically similar names — useful when Onyx 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 Onyx
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Is Onyx a unisex name?
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About the name Onyx
Onyx is a unisex baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1990 and has accumulated 8K births in the dataset. Onyx's peak popularity came in 2026 when it ranked #292. Use the chart and map above to compare Onyx's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.
Continue exploring
- Top names of 2026 →
- Names of the 2020s →
- Names starting with "O" →
- Browse all boy names →
- Top names of 2026 →
- Browse unisex names →
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.