Meaning & origin
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1889. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Oneal through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 3,179
- 3,049 boys · 130 girls
- Most popular year
- 1932
- 72 babies
- 2025
- 6
- #11,642 for boys
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- +3%
- Steady
Boys, girls and both
The balance of boys and girls given this name has shifted over time. Recent births are 100% boys.
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 6 U.S. birth records for boys, ranking No. 11,642 among boys’ names. The recent annual counts are too incomplete to establish a ten-year comparison. Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 1,296 as a first name in 2020; 45,929 as a surname in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Oneal’s family of names
In English usage, Oneal as a surname has a related form in O'NEAL.
The ring: nicknames and forms.
Nicknames & forms 2
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Similar names
If you love Oneal, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Donal
“ruler of the world; a brown-haired warrior”
>99% boys
Oran
“surrounded by light” · “a pale-skinned man”
>99% boys
Doyle
“a dark stranger”
>99% boys
Henery
Henery is a surname from Irish.
>99% boys
Ferrell
“a brave man; a hero”
92% boys · 8% girls
Howell
“a distinguished or eminent man”
>99% boys
Norval
“from the northern valley”
>99% boys
Ennis
“from the market town” · “from the island; the only choice”
>99% boys