Oneil Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
The name Oneil originates from the Irish Gaelic surname 'Ó Néill', meaning 'descendant of Néill', with Néill translating to 'champion' or 'cloud'. It has evolved through various historical forms such as Ó Néill and O'Neill. The name is associated with strength and leadership, and while it has no biblical relevance, it is recognized for its noble roots in Irish history.
The name Oneil is most popular in Louisiana, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Boy name among the Millennials (Gen Y) generation in the Northeast region. Recent 3-year trends show this Boy name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. Recent 3-year trends show this Girl name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. From 2020-2022, Oneil has been stalled for male in Northeast, stalled for male in South. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been stalled for male in Northeast, stalled for male in South. Across generations, 'Oneil' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 1695th out of 7545 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 1635th out of 6773 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 2188th out of 7552 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 3416th out of 10718 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 3186th out of 16616 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 4759th out of 24088 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 7877th out of 23106 names. Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 6965th out of 9107 names. Discover how the name 'Oneil' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Oneil"
Pronunciation
/oʊˈniːl/
Origin
Irish
Etymology
The name Oneil is derived from the Gaelic surname 'Ó Néill', which means 'descendant of Néill'. The name Néill itself is believed to mean 'champion' or 'cloud'.
Meaning
champion, cloud
Language Evolution
Ó Néill, O'Neill, Oneil
Historical Usage
The name gained popularity in Ireland, especially among the Gaelic nobility, and it has spread to English-speaking countries over the centuries.
Variants & Derivatives
O'Neill, Neal, Neil, Niall
Modern Popularity & Image
Oneil is perceived as a strong and distinguished name, often associated with leadership and heritage.
Famous People
Bobby Oneil, James Oneil, Rory Oneil
Explore More Oneil Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Oneil"
Note: Years with identical rankings may represent different numbers of births. Data is sourced from Social Security card applications for births in the United States.
Yearly Ranking History of "Oneil"
"Oneil" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Boy | 1695th of 7545 | 320 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Boy | 1635th of 6773 | 340 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Boy | 2188th of 7552 | 261 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Boy | 3416th of 10718 | 144 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Boy | 3186th of 16616 | 283 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Boy | 4759th of 24088 | 281 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Boy | 7877th of 23106 | 115 |
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Girl | 6965th of 9107 | 17 |
Regional Popularity of "Oneil" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- |
86.58% 1194th/1379 |
49.11% 1162nd/2366 |
- |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - |
62.05% 1460th/2353 |
- |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - |
52.54% 1499th/2853 |
- |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- |
58.25% 2029th/3483 |
- | - |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- |
27.91% 1249th/4475 |
- | - |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- |
39.54% 2042nd/5164 |
56.82% 4155th/7313 |
- |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
Regional Popularity of "Oneil" by Generation for Female Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - | - | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- | - | - | - |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
State-by-State Popularity of "Oneil"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Oneil" across states, calculated by dividing the number of births with this name in each state by the total births in that state. This methodology provides a standardized measure of popularity regardless of state population size.