Onyx as a Baby Name. Meaning and Origin of Onyx

What is the meaning of the name Onyx ?

The baby name Onyx is a Unisex name , 2 syllables long and is pronounced US: /ˈɑnɪks/, UK: /ˈɒnɪks/ (ON-iks).

Onyx is Greek in Origin.

Onyx derives from Greek ὄνυξ/ónyx “claw, fingernail,” applied to the banded gemstone; Latin onyx carried it into Old French and then English. A classical tale says Cupid clipped Venus’s nails and the gods turned them to stone, giving the gem its name - hence associations with protection, self-control, and grounded strength. In color symbolism, the black variety suggests elegance and resilience.

As a given name, Onyx is a modern, unisex choice, appearing sporadically in Anglophone records since the late 19th century but gaining real momentum in the 2010s–2020s alongside nature- and mineral-inspired names. It skews slightly male in U.S. statistics yet sees notable female use. Variants and spellings include Onix (Spanish/Portuguese), Ónix (accented in Spanish), Onyxx, and Oniks; related nicknames are Oni and Nix/Nyx. Cognates are transparent across European languages due to shared classical roots.