A 1900s favorite, climbing again.
Popularity of Oneal since 1889
Babies named Oneal per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1932, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Oneal's real moment was 1903.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1880s | 5 |
| 1890s | 5 |
| 1900s | 58 |
| 1910s | 266 |
| 1920s | 499 |
| 1930s | 509 |
| 1940s | 430 |
| 1950s | 365 |
| 1960s | 224 |
| 1970s | 175 |
| 1980s | 129 |
| 1990s | 142 |
| 2000s | 123 |
| 2010s | 70 |
| 2020s | 49 |
Meaning & origin
Oneal is a rare given name in the United States, first recorded in 1889. It peaked in use in 1903, but saw a revival in the 1900s decade. After a long decline, the name has been rising again since 2017, though it remains uncommon. As of 2025, its rank is 10,695, with about 1 in 284,679 boys receiving the name. The name's trajectory reflects a growing interest in surnames as first names, particularly those with Irish heritage. While no top states are recorded, Oneal carries a strong cultural connection to the O'Neill dynasty.
Oneal is an anglicized form of the Irish surname Ó Néill, meaning 'descendant of Niall'. The personal name Niall, from which it derives, is of uncertain origin but may mean 'champion' or 'cloud'. The surname became prominent through the O'Neill dynasty, a powerful Gaelic Irish family. As a given name, Oneal emerged in the United States in the late 19th century, often used in honor of family heritage.
Nicknames & variants
Sibling names for Oneal
Names that share Oneal's style, for a brother or sister.
