Rising since 1992, #844 for girls today.
Popularity of Honey since 1912
Babies named Honey per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1910s | 70 |
| 1920s | 134 |
| 1930s | 165 |
| 1940s | 246 |
| 1950s | 220 |
| 1960s | 309 |
| 1970s | 662 |
| 1980s | 320 |
| 1990s | 151 |
| 2000s | 648 |
| 2010s | 588 |
| 2020s | 1,244 |
Meaning & origin
Honey is a sweet-smelling word name that has been climbing the U.S. popularity charts since the early 1990s. It first appeared on the Social Security Administration's records in 1912, but remained extremely rare for decades. The name reached its peak rank of 844 in 2025, with a 1-in-4,992 incidence rate for newborn girls. Its trajectory has been consistently rising since 1992, reflecting a broader trend toward nature-inspired and endearment names. Honey's strongest state associations are Hawaii, Arkansas, and Idaho, where the name has seen the highest relative usage. The name's appeal likely stems from its warmth and nostalgic charm, positioning it as a distinctive yet accessible choice in modern American naming.
Honey derives from Old English 'hunig', referring to the sweet, viscous food substance made by bees. Used as a given name, it emerged in the late 19th and early 20th centuries as part of the trend of using affectionate nickname words as personal names. The name has seen a revival in recent decades, particularly in the United States.
Where Honey is most popular
Births per 100,000 girls by state, 2025. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
“Honey” around the world
Where Honey lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
5
babies in 2024
Ireland
9
babies in 2025
Sources: INSEE (France) · CSO Ireland (Ireland).
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Hon, Nini
Sibling names for Honey
Names that share Honey's style, for a brother or sister.
