* "Where the wild rice grows": This is the most widely accepted translation. Wild rice, a staple food for many Native American tribes, grows abundantly in the areas where many places named Onalaska are located.
* "At the mouth of the river": This translation is also commonly used and refers to the location of Onalaska, Wisconsin, which is situated at the confluence of the La Crosse and Black rivers.
Therefore, the meaning of "Onalaska" is related to both the natural resources and geographic location of the places bearing this name.