Total births
47
Boys' name · since 1976
Onathan
Since 1976, U.S. Social Security records show 47 babies named Onathan, peaking in 1988. See the year-by-year trend, decade totals, and state rankings below, sourced from federal birth data.
- 47
- total births
- 1976–1989
- years on record
- 1980s
- peak decade
- 79%
- born in that decade
47 boys have been named Onathan since 1976, though it isn't currently a top-ranked name.
According to the U.S. Social Security Administration, Onathan has been recorded 47 times among boys since 1976, though it is not among the currently most-used boys names, with its heaviest use in the 1980s. This profile covers year-by-year birth trends, decade totals, and state-level distribution, all derived directly from SSA birth-registration files spanning 1976 to 1989.
- 47 total births
- 1976–1989 years on record
- 1980s peak decade
- 79% born in that decade
Data updated Jul 2026
The verdict
47 boys have been named Onathan since 1976, peaking in the 1980s, last recorded in 1989.
- 47
- total births
- 1976–1989
- years on record
- 1980s
- peak decade
- 79%
- born in that decade
1980s
Peak decade
79% of everyone ever named Onathan was born in this single decade.
1988
Single peak year
12 babies were named Onathan in 1988 - its busiest year on record.
Onathan's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Onathan splits its recorded history at 1987: 64% of all births land in the more recent half, 36% in the earlier half, a lean toward present-day use rather than a passing spike. The single quietest year was 1976 (5 births) -- compare that against the 1988 peak of 12 for a sense of just how much the name's popularity has swung.
Onathan at a glance
Last recorded 1989Peak year
1988
Current rank
Unranked
Active since
1976
Onathan popularity over time
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1976–1989
- Peak year (1988)
- 12
- Annual births at peak, across 14 years of records
Onathan by decade
Total births in each ten-year window, peak vs trough at a glance
1980s was Onathan's strongest decade.
37 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 79% of all-time use.
Onathan births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1970s 10
1970s
10 births
- 1980s
1980s
37 births
What this shows Peak: 1980s at 37 births (79% of all-time use).
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Onathan? ▼
Onathan has been given to 47 babies in the U.S. since 1976, according to SSA data. Its last appearance in the data was 1989. 12 babies were born in 1988, its single highest year.
When was Onathan most popular? ▼
Onathan was most popular in the 1980s decade with 37 total births. The single peak year was 1988.
How long has the name Onathan been used? ▼
Records for Onathan go back to 1976, giving 14 years of history through 1989.
What names are similar to Onathan? ▼
Names with a similar sound or spelling include Onaje, Ona, Onan, Onas, and 3 more. These share a common prefix and are also used for boys.
Keep exploring Onathan
Nearby Names Like Onathan
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Onathan
Onaje Boy
#9184 109 births
Ona Boy
92 births
Onan Boy
#7841 43 births
Onas Boy
29 births
Onassis Boy
18 births
Compare Onathan side by side: Onathan vs Onaje Onathan vs Ona Onathan vs Onan
Related Names
Names with a similar number of total births
Data Sources
Data as of July 2026. Source: U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA).
According to the Social Security Administration, this profile draws directly from the agency's public-use baby-name files (updated June 2026). See our methodology for the full extraction, aggregation, and privacy-suppression rules.
Primary: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names from Social Security Card Applications, National Data, 1976–1989 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
Cite this page
NameAlmanac Editorial. "Onathan: Baby Name Since 1976 - 47 Births, Peak 1988." NameAlmanac. Accessed via https://namealmanac.com/name/onathan. Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Name Almanac is rendered directly from the Social Security Administration's public baby-name files, no number is typed in by an editor. This profile for Onathan draws directly on SSA national and state-level files, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of July 2026.