Ontonio
An invented masculine name, perhaps intended to suggest nobility or grandeur.
Name Census estimates that about 11 living Americans carry the first name Ontonio. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Ontonio today is around 36 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Ontonio births was 1987 (6 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Ontonio. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
Key insights
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Ontonio. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
11
~ 1 in 31,159,485 Americans
Peak year
1987
6 babies that year
Average age
36
years old
1991 SSA rank
#9,216
Tracked since 1987
Popularity
Ontonio: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Ontonio from the 1980s through to the 1990s, spanning 2 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1980s, with 6 total registrations. The name continues to be given at rates close to its all-time high, suggesting it has not yet fallen out of fashion.
Babies born per year
Decades
Ontonio by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Ontonio during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Origin
Meaning and history of Ontonio
The given name Ontonio has its origins in the ancient Etruscan civilization that flourished in what is now modern-day Italy. The Etruscans were a highly advanced culture known for their art, architecture, and language. The name Ontonio is believed to be derived from the Etruscan word "onte," which means "noble" or "honorable."
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Ontonio can be found in the Etruscan inscriptions dating back to the 6th century BCE. These inscriptions were typically carved on tombs, monuments, and pottery, and they provide valuable insights into the Etruscan language and culture.
In the 4th century BCE, the name Ontonio gained prominence in the Roman Republic. One of the most notable historical figures with this name was Ontonio Caelius, a Roman politician and military leader who served as a consul in 336 BCE. Caelius was renowned for his strategic military campaigns against the Samnites, a powerful Italian tribe.
During the Middle Ages, the name Ontonio experienced a resurgence in popularity among the noble families of Italy. One notable bearer of this name was Ontonio Grimaldi, a 13th-century nobleman from the powerful Grimaldi family of Genoa. He played a crucial role in the governance of the city-state and was instrumental in securing trade agreements with other Mediterranean powers.
In the Renaissance period, the name Ontonio found its way into the world of art and literature. Ontonio Pisanello, an Italian painter and medalist of the 15th century, was renowned for his skillful portraiture and his innovative use of light and shadow. His works, such as the frescoes in the Basilica of Sant'Anastasia in Verona, are considered masterpieces of the early Renaissance.
Another notable figure with the name Ontonio was Ontonio Vivaldi, the celebrated Baroque composer and violinist from the 18th century. Vivaldi's compositions, including the famous "Four Seasons" concertos, revolutionized the world of music and continue to be performed and revered to this day.
While the name Ontonio has its roots in ancient Etruscan culture, it has endured through the centuries and has been carried by numerous influential individuals across various fields, from politics and military leadership to art and music. The name's association with nobility and honor has contributed to its lasting appeal and significance throughout history.
People
Ontonio + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Ontonio as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with O
Other first names starting with O with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Ontonio: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Ontonio?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 11 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Ontonio going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 31,159,485 US residents.
Is Ontonio a common name?
We classify Ontonio as "Very Rare". It ranks above 30.8% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 11 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Ontonio most popular?
The single biggest year for Ontonio was 1987, when 6 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Ontonio is about 36 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
What does the SSA popularity chart show?
The chart tracks births, not the number of people alive with the name today. Each point shows how many babies were given the name Ontonio in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Ontonio a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Ontonio in the SSA data are male. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Is Ontonio still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Ontonio in 2024, and the page above shows its latest-year rank where available. A name can be well past its peak and still remain in steady use, especially if it built up a large population over earlier decades.
Why can a name have a lot of living bearers even if it is not trendy now?
Because living-bearer counts and current baby-name popularity measure different things. A name like Ontonio can build up a very large population over many decades, even if fewer parents are choosing it now than they did at its peak.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.
Does every first name have Census demographic data?
No. The public Census first-name release only covers names that met the Bureau's publication rules, so many rarer names in the SSA files do not have a published Census demographic snapshot. In those cases, the page still shows the SSA trend, gender history, and state data.
How many people are called Ontonio?
HowManyOfMe.org, our sister site, answers that with the living-bearer count in one glance.