Declining since 1985.
Popularity of Bonny since 1913
Babies named Bonny per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1910s | 38 |
| 1920s | 206 |
| 1930s | 391 |
| 1940s | 1,098 |
| 1950s | 1,958 |
| 1960s | 1,195 |
| 1970s | 574 |
| 1980s | 485 |
| 1990s | 164 |
| 2000s | 54 |
| 2010s | 17 |
| 2020s | 28 |
Meaning & origin
Bonny is a name with Scottish and English origins, meaning 'pretty' or 'attractive,' and is a variant of Bonnie. It first appeared in U.S. records in 1913, and saw its peak year in 1958, when it was most popular. Since 1985, its usage has been falling, and in the most recent year of data, 2025, it did not rank in the top 1000, with no reported 1-in-N frequency. The name enjoyed modest use in the 1950s, but has since become rare. Although it was historically a nickname for names like Bonita, it has stood on its own as a given name for girls.
Bonny is a Scottish and northern English word meaning 'pretty' or 'attractive,' derived from the Old French 'bon' (good) and ultimately from Latin 'bonus.' It has been used as a given name since the 19th century, often as a nickname for names like Bonita or as an independent name. Its usage peaked in the 1950s and has since declined.
Where Bonny is most popular
Births per 100,000 girls by state. Press play or drag the slider to watch it move across the decades. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
“Bonny” around the world
Where Bonny lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
5
babies in 2024
Sources: INSEE (France).
Nicknames & variants
Variants: Bonnie
Sibling names for Bonny
Names that share Bonny's style, for a brother or sister.
