Onesimus, derived from the Greek 'Ὡνῆσιμος' meaning 'useful', was a slave of Philemon, a prominent Christian in Colossae during the 1st century AD. He is prominently featured in Paul's Epistle to Philemon, one of the shortest books in the New Testament of the Bible. Onesimus, whose name prior to his conversion and fleeing his master's house was probably Sōtēs ('Savior'), became a Christian under the influence of the apostle Paul during his imprisonment in Rome around 62 AD. The Epistle to Philemon, written by Paul, seeks to reunite Onesimus with his former owner as brothers in Christ. This letter is notable for its exploration of themes such as forgiveness, reconciliation, and social justice within early Christian communities.
The name Onesimus has experienced fluctuations in its popularity over the past few decades, with a total of 50 babies given this name between 1982 and 2020. The most popular years for the name were 2013 and 2020, each having 8 and 7 births respectively. The name's usage has remained relatively stable in recent years, with at least five births occurring every year since 2003.