Onzie
A feminine diminutive form of the Italian name Yvonne meaning "yew wood".
Name Census estimates that about 6 living Americans carry the first name Onzie. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Onzie today is around 82 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Onzie births was 1922 (5 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Onzie. 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
- • The typical person named Onzie is about 82 years old today, placing it firmly among the names of earlier generations. Most living Onzies were born before 1954.
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Onzie. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
6
~ 1 in 57,125,723 Americans
Peak year
1922
5 babies that year
Average age
82
years old
1948 SSA rank
#4,048
Tracked since 1922
Popularity
Onzie: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Onzie from the 1920s through to the 1940s, spanning 2 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1940s, with 10 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
Onzie 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 Onzie 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 Onzie
The given name Onzie is a relatively uncommon moniker, with its origins shrouded in mystery and speculation. Some scholars trace its roots back to the ancient Germanic tribes that once inhabited the region now known as southern Germany and parts of Austria. It is believed to have derived from the Old High German word "unzi," which translates to "small" or "little one."
One theory suggests that Onzie was initially used as a pet name or nickname for children, particularly those of diminutive stature or younger siblings within a family. As these tribes migrated and intermingled with other cultures, the name may have evolved and adapted to different linguistic influences.
Historical records of the name Onzie are sparse, but there are a few notable figures who bore this moniker throughout the ages. One of the earliest mentions can be found in the annals of the Merovingian dynasty in the 7th century, where an Onzie was recorded as a minor nobleman in the court of King Clovis II.
In the 11th century, an Onzie von Lauterbach was a renowned scholar and scribe who worked tirelessly to preserve ancient manuscripts and texts during the tumultuous period of the Investiture Controversy. His efforts played a crucial role in safeguarding valuable knowledge for future generations.
During the Renaissance period, a painter named Onzie Bianchi gained recognition for his vibrant frescoes adorning the walls of several churches in northern Italy. His masterpieces, which depicted scenes from biblical stories, were celebrated for their intricate details and vivid colors.
In the 18th century, Onzie Grimaldi was a Corsican-born adventurer and explorer who sailed the high seas in search of uncharted territories. His daring exploits and tales of far-off lands captured the imagination of many during that era.
More recently, in the early 20th century, Onzie Woodruff was a pioneering aviator and one of the first African American women to obtain a pilot's license. Her remarkable achievements paved the way for future generations of female pilots and inspired countless others to pursue their dreams in the face of adversity.
While the name Onzie may not be as prevalent today as it once was, its rich history and unique origins serve as a reminder of the diverse tapestry of cultures and traditions that have shaped our world. Each name carries with it a story waiting to be uncovered and celebrated.
People
Onzie + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Onzie 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
Onzie: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Onzie?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 6 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Onzie 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 57,125,723 US residents.
Is Onzie a common name?
We classify Onzie as "Very Rare". It ranks above 22.3% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 15 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Onzie most popular?
The single biggest year for Onzie was 1922, when 5 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Onzie is about 82 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 Onzie in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Onzie a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Onzie 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 Onzie still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Onzie 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 Onzie 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 Americans are named Onzie?
See how many people share the name Onzie on HowManyOfMe.org, our sister site built around that single question.