Onyx

At a Glance: Name: Onyx – Meaning: banded gemstone; from Greek for 'claw, fingernail' – Origin: Greek – Gender: Neutral – Pronunciation: ON-iks

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Onyx is a Greek-origin name, listed as gender-neutral, that points straight to the banded gemstone — the word itself comes from the Greek for 'claw' or 'fingernail,' describing the stone's nail-like bands. You may have seen Onyx explained as meaning 'strength and protection,' but that's modern crystal lore, not the actual linguistic root. Pronounced ON-iks, it carries a bold edge with a vintage feel.

Meaning & Origin of Onyx

Meaning: Banded gemstone; from greek for 'claw, fingernail'.

Origin: Greek.

A common claim: black gemstone, associated with strength and protection Actually: Onyx doesn't linguistically mean 'strength and protection' — that's modern crystal lore. The Greek root onyx literally means 'claw, fingernail,' describing the stone's nail-like bands.

How to Pronounce Onyx

Phonetic: ON-iks   IPA: /ˈɑːnɪks/

Popularity of Onyx

Onyx peaked at #307 in the U.S. in 2023 with 1,077 babies given the name, then eased to #358 in 2024 with 927.

Source: U.S. Social Security Administration birth-name data, 1918–2024.

Make Onyx Name Art

Free printable nursery art for Onyx, pre-loaded below — pick a layout, palette, and font, then download a print-ready PNG.

Names With a Similar Story

Derived from shared style, era, and origin data (or, for names we have no style data for, a similar Social Security popularity trajectory) — not a hand-picked list.

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• Harlow
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FAQ

What does the name Onyx mean?

Banded gemstone; from greek for ‘claw, fingernail’.

How do you pronounce Onyx?

Onyx is pronounced ON-iks (IPA: /ˈɑːnɪks/).

Is Onyx a popular name right now?

Onyx peaked at #307 in 2023 and is ranked #358 as of 2024. (U.S. Social Security Administration data, 1918–2024.)

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