The baby name Onnolee takes local legend, combines it with an iconic song, and hides in the popularity data across most of the twentieth century and beyond.
Thanks to Caitlin for suggesting our Baby Name of the Day.
WHAT DOES THE NAME ONNOLEE MEAN?
It’s tempting to interpret Onnolee as a form of the girl’s name Annalee.
Plenty of names swap O for A and back again: Honora, Onora, and Anora. Olivia and Alivia. Andrea and Ondrea. In every case, one is more common – but the other one makes sense, too. In fact, parents often choose Ondrea or Alivia to emphasize a preferred pronunciation.
Could Onnolee be the same?
Maybe.
But there’s another story, and it’s far more intriguing. Reader comments suggest it’s a likely source of inspiration for many parents.
THE LEGEND OF ONNOLEE
American legend has it that Onnolee was the daughter of a tribal chief, living in the Finger Lakes region of New York.
By most accounts, Onnolee was the last surviving member of the Munsee tribe of Native Americans following an attack by a neighboring tribe. She was spared, because the leader of the Mengnee tribe wanted her as a captive.
Instead of meekly accepting her fate, Onnolee stabbed her captor, and ran. After fleeing, the ran toward Hemlock Lake, with her captors in pursuit. The princess jumped to her own death.
It’s said to have happened in the 14th century. Storytellers insist that Onnolee’s ghost still rises from the waters of the lake.
Both Hemlock Lake and neighboring Canadice Lake were once popular vacation destinations for weekend visitors.
Nineteenth century poet W.H.C. Hosmer wrote about Onnolee, as well as many other Native American stories from history and legend.
If you spent time in the Finger Lakes region, Onnolee was almost certainly perceived as a romantic, poetic name.
HOW ABOUT HONALEE?
Let’s stick around New York for a minute, because here’s where it gets really interesting.
You’re probably heard the song “Puff the Magic Dragon.”
First recorded in 1963, by folk trio Peter, Paul, and Mary, it became a major hit. And a significant source of controversy.
The fictional land where Puff the Magic Dragon and his human friend, little Jackie Paper, frolicked in the autumn mist was called Honalee.
Critics insisted it was all a thinly veiled drug reference.
But the folk song was inspired by a verse written by LennyLipton. Lipton was Peter Yarrow’s friend at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York – smack in the middle of the Finger Lakes region. And Yarrow was the Peter of Peter, Paul, and Mary.
Apparently, Lipton left the random musings in a shared typewriter.
IS ONNOLEE A NATIVE AMERICAN NAME?
The issues around choosing Native American names aside, it’s not clear if Onnolee or Honalee would’ve been a plausible name for a 14th century member of the Munsee tribe.
The Munsee belong to the Lenape people, and their languages are part of the Algonquian language group.
Possibly the name has been Anglicized beyond recognition. The same process that transformed Lechaweki to Lehigh and Minisink to Munsee could have smoothed a less approachable name.
What we know for certain, from both the famous song and the stories of many New York state residents? Onnolee and Honalee were in the air, and had been for ages.
HOW POPULAR IS THE NAME ONNOLEE?
The baby name Onnolee has never appeared in the US Top 1000.
But given the many possible spellings and variations, that’s not the final word.
In the year 2023:
- Fewer than five girls were named Onnolee, Onnalee, or Honalee
- 12 girls were named Onalee
That’s incredibly rare.
And yet, 202 girls were named Annalee in 2023, along with Anali (92 girls), Annalie (66 girls), Analie (55 girls), Analee (54 girls), Annali (22 girls), Annelie (8 girls), Anelie (6 girls), Annaley (5 girls), with many more variations heard.
While Onnolee has always been among the rare names, it was more popular during the 1920s.
It’s possible that increased tourism in the Finger Lakes region meant more future parents heard the story of Onnolee.
Then again, names like Rosalee and Marilee were on the rise during the 1920s, suggesting that the baby name Onnolee just fit the moment.
ROMANTIC RARITY
Overall, the baby name Onnolee feels romantic and rare.
With ties to legend and folklore, it’s a New York state name. The song makes it more universal.
If some form of this name appears on your family tree, or if you’d like to celebrate your roots in the New York region, then his might be the perfect name for a daughter.
What do you think of the baby name Onnolee?
First published on June 13, 2012, this post was updated on April 28, 2025.
This is a great name.
My name is Onnoleigh and I am named after Onnolee of Canadice lake whom you’ve written about above. My mom decided to americanize the spelling. Our house overlooked Canadice lake in the finger lakes. So grateful to my mom for a such a wonderful and unique name. As a child I swore Puff was singing about me and now I can prove it! lol
What a cool story, Onnoleigh! Thank you for sharing.
My daughter is named Onalee (b. 2016) after my grandmother Katharine Onalee (b. 1932) who was named after her grandmother Jessie Onalee. We are all from western NY near Conesus lake. My grandmother was aware of the poem written by Mr. Hosmer about the Indian maiden Onnolee and I recently just learned that he was actually from my very small hometown (approx 2000 people)… what are the odds??!
My mothers name is Onalee ( on – a – lee). Some in her family pronounced her name like on lee. It’s a unique name. I have known 2 others by that name. They are all deceased now. It’s an older name for sure.
This is a beautiful name, if I’m pronouncing it correctly. Is it On-o-lee? Thanks!
Yes.
I believe so – but it’s so rare that I’m not 100% certain, either! Just going off the pronunciation from the song, more than anything …
My name is Donnolee. I was named after my grandmother, Onnolee (b1910). My parents added the D because I have two older sisters with names beginning with D. My family is from the Mohawk Valley area of upstate New York.
My aunts name was Onolee.She was born on Oct 24th 1915 and died Oct 24th 1983.I never got to meet her but her name always stuck out to me.She died in brockport new york.
My family came across this post and just shared it with me and I’m so glad they did. As the grandson of an Onnolee, (b 1906) and now the father of an Onnolee (b 2009) whom we named after her – it’s a very special to us and the mystery around the origins adds to the charm. This is the most info on the name that we’ve found in one place, including the replies. So thanks to everyone for that. My grandmother grew up in Ohio, but the story we know is that she was named for a teenage Cherokee girl, Onnolee, who lived with their family as an au pair, and came from Pennsylvania. Can’t help but wonder if Julie’s grandmother came from that area as the dates happen to align. Coincidentally, I grew up in the Finger Lakes region, but now live in NYC.
Can’t help to wonder if we aren’t related. since my paternal family came from Springwater NY which is where Hemlock Lake starts more or less and there is more than one Onnolle in our [now deceased] ancestors…and my Great Grandmother was a half breed [her words not mine]
My grandmother, born 1888, was named Onnolee. My daughter, born 2008, is named Onnolee. We live 2 miles from Conesus Lake – the most western of the Finger Lakes. 🙂 I can name at least 2 other Onnolee’s from this area, both born in the 1800’s.
Thanks, Julie – exciting to get a report from the Finger Lakes region! And what a great name to pass down to your daughter. 🙂