Sonny
Sonny is a boy's name of English origin.
Meaning
Son or young boy; bright and sunny.
Origin and history
Sonny originated as an English vocabulary word meaning 'son', initially used as an affectionate nickname. Over time, it gained status as an independent given name in the United States. Its usage has seen a notable resurgence in recent years as parents favor friendly, diminutive-style names.
Popularity in the United States
22,327 babies in the United States have been named Sonny since 1880. It ranks #785 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #385.
States where it is most popular
- CA (22.3 %)
- TX (13.6 %)
- NY (5.9 %)
- OH (4.1 %)
- FL (3.9 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 7 |
| 1890-1900 | 32 |
| 1900-1910 | 87 |
| 1910-1920 | 183 |
| 1920-1930 | 386 |
| 1930-1940 | 1,084 |
| 1940-1950 | 1,201 |
| 1950-1960 | 1,309 |
| 1960-1970 | 1,413 |
| 1970-1980 | 2,517 |
| 1980-1990 | 2,288 |
| 1990-2000 | 1,838 |
| 2000-2010 | 2,232 |
| 2010-2019 | 2,806 |
| 2020-2029 | 4,944 |
Famous people named Sonny
- Sonny Bono: Musician, Politician
- Sonny Liston: Boxer
- Sonny Rollins: Musician, Composer
Fun facts
- Sonny began primarily as a familiar term used by parents for their male children before evolving into a formal first name.
- While popular in the mid-20th century, the name has seen a strong revival in the United States since the late 2010s.