The official peer-reviewed journal for the Canadian Society for the Study of Names, whose principle objective is to promote the study of names in Canada and abroad, as well as to exchange ideas among onomatologists, toponymists, and scholars in the related fields of literary onomastics and linguistic aspects of names. Established in 1951, the journal first published as Onomastica, but changed to the present title in 1982 to avoid confusion with Polish and Russian journals with similar titles. The journal publishes two issues a year and accepts original and research submissions in both English and French. In 2022, the Journal moved from print to digital publishing.

The library holds no. 1, pt. 2 (1951) (scanned copy) to vol. 85, no. 1 (2003). Missing: nos. 2, 4, 7, 9, 11, 13-15, 17-19, 21, 26-28, 35, 38, 43, 46, 48, 61, 62; vol. 70, no. 2; vol. 71, no. 1; vol. 72, no. 2; vol. 73; vol. 75.

Reflecting initial support from the Ukrainian Free Academy of Sciences (UVAN), the early journals are predominantly in Ukrainian and lean towards Slavic onomastics (particularly Ukrainian). In 1967, the Canadian Institute of Onomastic Sciences was founded and assumed responsibility for the journal. This organization was reconstituted as a society in 1977; the Candian Society for the Study of Names continues to sponsor the journal.

8 volumes prior to 1992 appeared with subtitle Onomastica Canadiana: vols. 36, 38, 40, 42, 44, 46, 49 and 50; they present mainly administrative matters.

Most volumes up to 50 were devoted to 1 paper. The journal increased in size after this, publishing 3-4 papers per volume. Until 1984, the journal appeared as 2 booklets each year, each booklet being called a volume. From 1985, vol. 67, the journal has appeared as 1 annual volume (changing designation from no. to vol.), divided into 2 issues, published in June and December. Book reviews started in vol. 61.