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Onan

♂ Boy

Pronounced OH-nan /ˈoʊ.nən/High

Meaning: From the Hebrew, 'strong; vigorous; potent' (a son of Judah in the Bible); we note the biblical nameLow

In 30 seconds: Strong; vigorous; potent: Onan is Hebrew. Crisp, classic, and warm.

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Origin LowHebrew

MeaningFrom the Hebrew, 'strong; vigorous; potent' (a son of Judah in the Bible); we note the biblical name

U.S. rank (2024)#8131 ↗ Rising

2024 U.S. births10 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)

Peak year2024

Total births (all-time)≈ 43

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Onan comes from the Hebrew, 'strong; vigorous; potent' (a son of Judah in the Bible; we note the biblical name). A crisp, classic name (said 'OH-nan').

In the U.S. it registers thinly. Rare, strong-and-vigorous at the root, and classic.

Did you know? Onan means 'strong; vigorous; potent' in Hebrew (a son of Judah in the Bible) — a crisp, classic name (we note the biblical name; said 'OH-nan').

Overall data confidence 32%

References — Onan — biblical name noted

Variations

OnenOnam

Nicknames

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Onan mean?

Onan is Hebrew for 'strong; vigorous; potent' (a son of Judah in the Bible). We note the biblical name.

How do you pronounce Onan?

It's said OH-nan /ˈoʊ.nən/ — two syllables, stress on the first.

Is Onan a boy or girl name?

Onan is a boy's name.

How popular is Onan?

Onan is a very rare name in the U.S.