Onesimo first name popularity, history and meaning

Find out how popular the first name Onesimo has been for the last 49 years (from 1975 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Meaning of Onesimo

A masculine name of Spanish and Italian origin meaning "beneficial" or "useful".

Popularity of Onesimo by gender

Based on the last 49 years of data, Onesimo is exclusively a male name.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 7 male babies and 0 female babies born with the name Onesimo.

Year Male Count Female Count
2023 7 0
2022 5 0
2019 6 0
2016 5 0
2015 7 0
2012 10 0
2011 5 0
2009 9 0
2008 8 0
2007 7 0
2006 8 0
2005 8 0
2004 5 0
2002 8 0
2001 6 0
2000 9 0
1998 6 0
1997 11 0
1996 6 0
1994 10 0
1993 9 0
1992 5 0
1991 5 0
1990 10 0
1989 6 0
1988 5 0
1987 8 0
1986 8 0
1985 5 0
1984 5 0
1983 8 0
1982 16 0
1980 9 0
1979 5 0
1977 6 0
1976 5 0
1975 9 0

The history of the first name Onesimo

The name Onesimo has its origins in ancient Greek, derived from the word "onēsimos," which means "helpful" or "beneficial." This name's earliest known historical reference can be traced back to the New Testament of the Bible, where it appears as the name of a slave mentioned in Paul's letter to Philemon.

In the biblical account, Onesimo was a slave who fled from his master, Philemon, but later converted to Christianity and became a follower of Paul. Paul urged Philemon to receive Onesimo back not as a slave, but as a beloved brother in Christ. This story has given the name Onesimo a symbolic meaning of redemption and reconciliation within Christian tradition.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the name Onesimo was Onesimo Nepomuceno (1770-1829), a Brazilian priest, educator, and philosopher who played a significant role in the development of education in his country. He was a proponent of the Enlightenment ideals and sought to reform the educational system in Brazil.

Another notable figure was Onesimo Redondo (1905-1936), a Spanish politician and leader of the Falange Española, a far-right political movement during the Second Spanish Republic. He was assassinated in 1936, shortly before the outbreak of the Spanish Civil War.

In the realm of literature, Onesimo Silveira (1935-2021) was a renowned Brazilian writer and journalist known for his works that explored the cultural identity and social issues of his native state of Rio Grande do Sul.

Onesimo Aguado (1901-1972) was a Spanish painter and sculptor associated with the Surrealist movement. His works often incorporated elements of fantasy and dreamlike imagery, reflecting the influence of his contemporaries such as Salvador Dalí and Joan Miró.

Lastly, Onesimo Bálor (1888-1939) was a Mexican revolutionary and military leader who fought alongside Emiliano Zapata during the Mexican Revolution. He played a crucial role in the peasant uprising in the state of Morelos and was known for his unwavering commitment to the revolutionary cause.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Onesimo was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Onesimo, please contact us.

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"Onesimo first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on September 9, 2025. http://namecensus.com/first-names/onesimo-meaning-and-history/.

"Onesimo first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/first-names/onesimo-meaning-and-history/. Accessed 9 September, 2025

Onesimo first name popularity, history and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/first-names/onesimo-meaning-and-history/.

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