Declining since 1994, #9,714 for boys today.
Popularity of Oneil since 1892
Babies named Oneil per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1924, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Oneil's real moment was 1892.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1890s | 5 |
| 1900s | 0 |
| 1910s | 115 |
| 1920s | 264 |
| 1930s | 185 |
| 1940s | 171 |
| 1950s | 142 |
| 1960s | 85 |
| 1970s | 83 |
| 1980s | 149 |
| 1990s | 198 |
| 2000s | 189 |
| 2010s | 125 |
| 2020s | 46 |
Meaning & origin
Oneil is a rare given name that first appeared in U.S. records in 1892. That year also marked its peak, with the name ranking 9,714th by 2025. With an estimated 1 in 244,011 boys receiving the name in the latest year, it is considered very uncommon. The name's trajectory has been falling since 1994, suggesting a steady decline in use. As a variant of the Irish surname O'Neil, it carries the legacy of one of Ireland's most famous clans, the O'Neills of Ulster. Despite its low current usage, it retains a strong cultural association with Irish heritage. No top states were recorded, indicating it does not concentrate in any particular region.
Oneil is most likely an Anglicized respelling of the Irish surname O'Neill, from the Gaelic Ó Néill 'descendant of Niall'. The personal name Niall is of uncertain meaning, possibly 'champion' or 'cloud'. As a given name, Oneil follows the tradition of using Irish surnames as first names, especially in the United States and the Caribbean. Its usage peaked in the late 19th century but has since declined.
Nicknames & variants
Sibling names for Oneil
Names that share Oneil's style, for a brother or sister.
