Bonny
Bonny was not among the names given to 5 or more girls in 2025. Its best year was 1955, when it ranked 595th; the most babies were born in 1958 (269). More babies were named Bonny in the 1950s than in any other decade.
Meaning (as Bonnie) pretty, fine (Scots) · Scots, French
- Rank in 2025
- Not rankedgirls
- Babies in 2025
- 0girls
- Girls and boys
- Almost always a girl’s name2021–2025
- Peak year
- 1958269 babies
- Total since 1880
- 6,469babies recorded
What does the name Bonny mean?
Bonny is a spelling of Bonnie, pronounced the same way, so it shares Bonnie's meaning and origin.
Bonnie is the Scots word for pretty, fine or attractive, from French bon, bonne, "good". Wiktionary notes it began as an American nickname from the Scottish word. It became a given name in its own right; Bonnie Blue Butler in Gone with the Wind (1936) and the 1930s outlaw Bonnie Parker are well-known bearers.
bonnie (Scots, “pretty, fine”)bon (French, “good”)
How sure is this? Well established.
See also: Scottish names, names that mean beautiful.
Sources for this meaning
- Wiktionary, entry 'Bonnie', Wiktionary (Wikimedia Foundation)
- Dictionary.com Unabridged (based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary), with Collins English Dictionary, s.v. 'Bonnie', Dictionary.com / Random House / HarperCollins
- CMU Pronouncing Dictionary (cmudict), Carnegie Mellon University
Bonny popularity since 1880
A few boys are given the name too: 261 since 1917.
| Year | Rank (girls) | Babies (girls) |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | — | — |
| 2020 | #12,364 | 7 |
| 2010 | — | — |
| 2000 | #8,637 | 11 |
| 1990 | #3,530 | 30 |
| 1980 | #1,584 | 73 |
| 1970 | #1,247 | 89 |
| 1960 | #755 | 183 |
| 1950 | #850 | 108 |
| 1940 | #786 | 81 |
| 1930 | #1,326 | 33 |
| 1920 | #2,607 | 13 |
| 1910 | — | — |
| 1900 | — | — |
| 1890 | — | — |
| 1880 | — | — |
How popular is Bonny, counting every spelling?
Bonny is a spelling of Bonnie, a name family that ranked #418 for girls in 2025 once every spelling is counted together. Together these spellings went to 785 girls in 2025.
| Spelling | Babies 2025 | Official rank | Babies 2021–2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bonnie | 785 | #396 | 3,292 |
Spellings count together when they sound the same in American English and are used for the same sex; nicknames and forms that sound different (such as Theo and Theodore) are kept apart. How we group spellings.
How old are people named Bonny?
About 4,600 people born in the US named Bonny are alive today, with a median age of 66; half are between 55 and 73. That makes Bonny a name most people associate with older generations.
Babies given the name each year (SSA) times the share of that birth year still alive (SSA life tables). Counts people born in the US only. Method.
Bonny by state
How common Bonny was among girls born in each state in 1956–1960, around its peak. It is notably more common than nationally in Connecticut (1.6×), Wisconsin (1.6×), Pennsylvania (1.6×). In 28 states fewer than five girls a year got the name, too few for SSA to publish, so those states show as zero.
Names with a similar history
These names rose and fell in step with Bonny: their share of US girls followed the most similar curve since 1880. If you like Bonny, they share its era and feel.
Questions about the name Bonny
What does Bonny mean?
Bonny is a spelling of Bonnie, which means “pretty, fine (Scots)” (Scots, French origin). Certainty: well established.
How popular is the name Bonny?
Bonny was not among the names given to 5 or more girls in 2025. Its best year was 1955, when it ranked 595th; the most babies were born in 1958 (269). More babies were named Bonny in the 1950s than in any other decade.
Is Bonny a boy or girl name?
In 2021–2025, almost always a girl’s name given the name Bonny in the US.
Where was Bonny most popular?
In 1956–1960, Bonny was most common in Hawaii (0.20 per 1,000 girls), followed by Connecticut and Wisconsin.