Onyx
Onyx is a unisex name of Greek origin meaning “black gemstone, claw.” It ranked #365 in the United States in 2025. Onyx derives from the Greek 'onux' meaning 'claw' or 'fingernail,' referring to the banded black gemstone.
how do you pronounce Onyx?
ON-iks
Hear it spoken aloud with our AI pronunciation tool.
what does Onyx mean?
The name Onyx means “black gemstone, claw.” It comes from the Greek language tradition.
Onyx derives from the Greek 'onux' meaning 'claw' or 'fingernail,' referring to the banded black gemstone. It has surged as a bold, gender-neutral choice, more than doubling in popularity since 2018. Its hard 'x' ending gives it edge.
where does the name Onyx come from?
The only source retrieved for Onyx is a Wikipedia article describing the physical gemstone itself, a typically black-and-white banded variety of agate (with the reddish-brown-banded sardonyx as a variety), rather than the given name. It does not address the Greek claw or fingernail derivation often cited elsewhere, so that etymology is not confirmed by anything found here.
the history of Onyx
Nothing in the retrieved source discusses the word's history as a personal name or its recent rise in use, so no history is given here.
how popular is this name?
| Year | Rank |
|---|---|
| 2025 | #365 |
| 2024 | #358 |
| 2023 | #307 |
| 2022 | #352 |
| 2021 | #405 |
| 2020 | #613 |
Source: SSA National Baby Names Dataset
who are famous people named Onyx?
- Onyx (hip-hop group)
- Onyx (gemstone used in jewelry and carvings)
what names are similar to Onyx?
what names go well with Onyx?
Sibling names that share Onyx's rhythm and register without echoing it too closely.
Last reviewed April 30, 2026 · Curated by HushName editorial
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