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I have to agree with your boyfriend, as I see it more for a boy. But I also think that on a girl the the nickname Nixie would be cute as well.

I was just thinking about this name! Although I love Nyx, I've always considered Onyx "Nyx" to be better suited for a boy. But lately, I've been thinking about "Onnie" on a girl and think Onyx could be need. I dunno though, it seems almost TOO self-conscious 'badass' on a girl and somehow more believable on a boy

Main connotations:
1. race, honestly. It's like Ebony or Bronwen or Rowan that way. It's equally usable for anyone, of course, but does make me think (without seeing a bearer) that it could be a poetic reference to complexion.
2. the color of a polished onyx, and all the things that deep black symbolizes - occult, infinity, protection, void, nocturnal etc (it's gothy).
3. men's jewelry
4. that guy who shaves himself with onyx flakes in his video. It's the sharpest blade in the universe. So dangerous! ("edgy" name lol?)

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So, I guess it's more masculine, but a sleek and vain kind of masculine. It's not unfeminine so that it'd be unsuitable for a woman, but personally I think it sounds a little too sensuous and vain - being such a "hard" and reflective impression. Either way, an eccentric, dramatic name at about the same level as Aries or Plum or Spirit ... doesn't appeal to me personally, but there's nothing about it that really bothers me either. It could work IRL. I sort of agree that Nixie is cute. Nicksie ... But the nix part, is ehhh... Anyway, I'd lean towards Onyx being a man-name, but I think it's OK as a woman-name.

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Nyx bugs me because of the sound of nix, negation, and the sound of nicks / surname Nicks. It's also sort of too punchy for real life, like Dax or Dash or Trig. jmho I would not want to be "Nyx."

This message was edited 1/13/2015, 4:38 PM

There was a bride named Onyx on Say Yes to the Dress Bridesmaids a year or two ago. She was a plus sized black documentary director, who was going to wear a black dress (her favorite color/ stone is onyx) and she was picking out the bridesmaids' dresses. Personally, I'd only use it for a pet.

I agree with you that it comes off as a girl's name rather than a boy's name. But I really don't like it personally-- when I see it, it reminds me of Nix/Nyx, like you, but I'm not reminded of the deity. I'm reminded of the countless number of Mary-Sues in countless varied fanfics (which usually turn out to be erotic). I remember it becoming a bit of a joke a while ago, with Nyx being the cliched Mary-Sue name for "goth" sues. Onyx definitely seems in that vein as well.

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So, I just can't take the name seriously because of that haha

Honestly I think it sounds masculine. I can't picture it on a girl at all. Also it makes me think of Pokemon since there is one named Onix.

Hard one... this is purely unisex to me. I can see it on both.

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I guess I think it fits the edgy category better with a boy, but it is more fantasy-like on a girl.

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If I were to use it, I would likely pick the name and use it whether I had a boy or a girl. (We did that with Evren for a while).

Jewel names are feminine to me. Jade, Ruby, Pearl, Onyx.
But Onyx seems to me to be much more self-conscious than the others. Not edgy, just verging on tacky or animal-like. I'm pretty sure I have known of a black cat called Onyx.

I lean toward masculine, perhaps because I usually see the stone used in men's jewelry.

I like Nyx for a girl, but for some reason Onyx is masculine to me. Maybe a middle name for a girl but I'd prefer it on a boy. Again, probably in the middle name slot. Onyx is actually pretty cool.