Onesti
A name of Romanian origin conveying connotations of integrity and honesty.
Name Census estimates that about 110 living Americans carry the first name Onesti. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Onesti today is around 13 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Onesti births was 2004 (9 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Onesti. 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.
People living today
110
~ 1 in 3,115,949 Americans
Peak year
2004
9 babies that year
Average age
13
years old
2024 SSA rank
#14,790
Tracked since 2004
Popularity
Onesti: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Onesti from the 2000s through to the 2020s, spanning 3 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2010s, with 42 total registrations. Although the numbers have come down from the 2010s peak, Onesti remains solidly in use and shows no sign of disappearing from maternity wards.
Babies born per year
Decades
Onesti 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 Onesti 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 Onesti
The given name Onesti has its roots in the Romanian language and culture, with origins dating back to the early 19th century. It is believed to be derived from the Romanian word "onest," meaning "honest" or "honorable." The name's etymology suggests a connection to virtues of integrity and uprightness.
In the historical context, Onesti was initially prevalent among Romanian communities, particularly in the regions of Transylvania and Moldavia. The name gained popularity during the nation's struggle for independence and cultural identity, reflecting the aspirations of the Romanian people for a society built on principles of honesty and moral rectitude.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Onesti can be traced back to the influential Romanian writer and poet, Onesti Grigore (1835-1899), whose works played a significant role in shaping the country's literary landscape. His poetic compositions often celebrated the virtues of honesty and truth, aligning with the name's underlying meaning.
Another notable figure bearing the name Onesti was Onesti Mihai (1876-1957), a prominent Romanian politician and statesman. He served as a member of the Romanian Parliament and was widely respected for his commitment to ethical governance and his unwavering stance against corruption.
In the realm of music, Onesti Ionescu (1899-1972) was a celebrated Romanian composer and conductor. His compositions, infused with traditional Romanian folk melodies and rhythms, captivated audiences worldwide and became emblematic of the country's rich cultural heritage.
Onesti Alexandru (1912-1985) was a renowned Romanian artist and sculptor, whose works are celebrated for their intricate details and profound expressions of human emotions. His sculptures often depicted scenes from everyday life, capturing the essence of honesty and authenticity in their subjects.
Beyond Romania, the name Onesti also found its way into other cultures and traditions. In the early 20th century, Onesti Petrov (1906-1993) was a prominent Bulgarian author and playwright, whose works explored themes of truth, justice, and the human condition. His plays were widely acclaimed for their honesty and depth, resonating with audiences across Europe.
While these are a few notable examples, the name Onesti has been borne by numerous individuals throughout history, each leaving their mark in various fields and contributing to the rich tapestry of human experience.
People
Onesti + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Onesti 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
Onesti: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Onesti?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 110 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Onesti 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 3,115,949 US residents.
Is Onesti a common name?
We classify Onesti as "Very Rare". It ranks above 65.9% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 111 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Onesti most popular?
The single biggest year for Onesti was 2004, when 9 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Onesti is about 13 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 Onesti in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Onesti a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Onesti in the SSA data are female. 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 Onesti still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Onesti 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 Onesti 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 people have Onesti as a first name?
HowManyOfMe.org, our sister site, answers that with the living-bearer count in one glance.