Ontario

“Iroquoian”

Canada origin · Boy name

♂ 97% boys♀ 3% girls

#10569US 2022

7Births / yr

↓Falling

849All-time births

📅 Since 196700

How to pronounce Ontario

ah·NTER·ee·oh

/ɑ.ˈntɛr.iː.oʊ/ · stress on NTER · 4 syllables

“Iroquoian”

Canada origin · Boy name

What does Ontario mean and where does it come from?

Ontario is named after the Ontario Lake in Canada, deriving from the Iroquoian word 'ontari:io', meaning 'great lake.' It has become more popular as a given name in recent years, likely influenced by the interest in geographic names as personal names. Ontario is occasionally used in the U.S. and rep

Cultural significance

Ontario has been a cherished name across cultures, particularly in Canada-speaking communities, where it reflects values of iroquoian.

Peak popularity

Reached #1977 in 1973 — currently #10569 in the US.

🌿

What middle names flow best with Ontario?

Ontario works best with short, strong middle names — one or two syllables keep the full name from becoming a mouthful

Ontario Grace

How popular is Ontario right now?

Falling — down 4317 spots — currently #10569 in the US out of 135.5k tracked names

US Trend 1970–2022#10569 · Top 7.8%

1970

1975

1980

1985

1990

1995

2000

2005

2010

2020

2021

2022

Year	US Rank	Births	vs Prior Year
2022	#10569	7	▼ down 4317 · -50% births
2021	#6252	14	▲ up 2572 · +75% births
2020	#8824	8	▼ down 2031 · -33% births
2010	#6793	12	▼ down 2281 · -37% births
2005	#4512	19	▲ up 371 · +27% births
2000	#4883	15	▼ down 1730 · -32% births
1995	#3153	22	▲ up 241 · +22% births
1990	#3394	18	▼ down 983 · -18% births
1985	#2411	22	▼ down 207 · -8% births
1980	#2204	24	▼ down 78 · +9% births
1975	#2126	22	▲ up 2045 · +214% births
1970	#4171	7	—

Name Popularity Timeline

Popularity Statistics for Ontario

Best Year1975Rank #2126

Peak Count24

Average Rank#4941

Current Trend↘Falling

Data Range1970 - 202212 years

The story of Ontario

Ontario is a relatively modern name, first appearing in US records in 1967. With 849 total births recorded, Ontario remains relatively uncommon. Once ranked #4171 in 1970, the name has become less common in recent years, sitting at #10569 in 2022.

Names that peaked alongside Ontario in 1973:

Michael Christopher Jason James David

Ontario by decade

Ontario peaked in the 1970s. See all 1970s names →

Decade	Births
1960s	11
1970s	163
1980s	205
1990s ★	225
2000s	161
2010s	76
2020s	8

💎Ontario has only 849 total recorded births since 1967 — rarer than 99% of names in our database.

What are good nicknames for Ontario?

Common

OntArio

What names sound and feel like Ontario?

Based on sound, origin, and style — parents who love Ontario also consider these

Onterio

American · Derived from Ontario,

American · Invented name, unique

Ontonio

Spain · High value, priceless

Antario

American · Derived from a

Common questions about the name Ontario

What does the name Ontario mean?

Ontario means "Iroquoian" — a name rooted in Canada tradition that carries both historical depth and timeless appeal. The meaning reflects values that have made this name endure across generations.

How popular is the name Ontario?

Ontario is currently a distinctive and less common name as a boy name in the US and is rapidly gaining popularity — searches for Ontario have increased significantly in recent years.

What is the cultural origin of Ontario?

Ontario originates from Canada tradition. Canada names tend to carry strong cultural heritage and have spread across the world through migration, literature, and religion over centuries.

How do you pronounce the name Ontario?

Ontario is a four-syllable name pronounced AA0 N T EH1 R IY0 OW0. The pronunciation is straightforward for English speakers, and the name reads clearly on paper — an important practical consideration for parents.

What sibling names go well with Ontario?

Ontario pairs beautifully with sibling names that share a similar Canada heritage or complement its melodic and flowing sound. Names with a similar vibe create a cohesive sibling set without matching too closely.