Onyx Name Meaning: What Does Onyx Mean for a Cat?

Onyx means “claw.” It is the Greek word that gave us the black gemstone, and few names fit a sleek black cat, claws and all, quite this precisely.

What Does the Name Onyx Mean?

Onyx means “claw.” The word comes straight from the Ancient Greek onyx, meaning a claw or fingernail, and its origin is Greek. The meaning above is the verified literal one, not a personality guess, checked for this page against Behind the Name.

The gemstone took the same name because banded onyx, with its pale curved layers, was thought to resemble a fingernail, Greek legend even claimed the stone began as Venus’s nail clippings, trimmed by Cupid and turned to stone by the Fates. Onyx is a variety of chalcedony, usually black with white bands, and it has been carved into cameos and seals since Roman times. As a given name it is a modern, unisex choice that has only become common in the last few decades.

What Kind of Cat Suits the Name Onyx?

Onyx is made for a black cat, glossy coat, sharp little claws, an air of polished mystery. It is also one of the few names whose meaning is literally feline: every cat comes equipped with the namesake. Dark grey and tuxedo cats wear it well too, echoing the stone’s black-and-white banding.

The name sounds strong and a little edgy: two crisp syllables, “ON-iks,” ending in an X that gives it a modern snap. Short forms are rare, Nyx, the Greek goddess of the night, is a clever nickname if you want one. Because the name is unisex, it works equally well for males and females.

How Popular Is Onyx for Cats?

Onyx appears in both major cat-name rankings: Rover places it at #93 on the combined list, and U.S. News ranks it considerably higher at #43, a sign of how fast this gemstone name has been climbing for black cats in particular.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the name Onyx mean?

Onyx means “claw.” It comes from the Greek word onyx, “claw, nail,” which is also the source of the name of the black banded gemstone.

Is Onyx a good name for a cat?

Yes, Onyx suits cats of either sex and is a favourite for black cats. Few names are more literally feline, since the Greek word behind it means a claw or nail.

Is Onyx named after the gemstone?

They share one source: both the name and the stone come from the Greek onyx. The stone, whose pale bands suggested a fingernail, simply carried the word into jewellery long before it became a name.

Where can I find more names like Onyx?

See our Black Cat Names and Unique Cat Names lists, or browse the full cat name meanings hub.

By Brianna Baxter

Meaning and origin verified against Behind the Name.