Bunion
A bunion, also known as hallux valgus, is an outward deformity of the foot's metatarsophalangeal joint which connects the big toe to the foot. The rear tarsametatarsal joint that holds the metatarsal bone in a straight-ahead position weakens, and the metatarsal moves outward and rotates 90 degrees, bringing the sesamoids up against the adjacent toe.
Meaning & Origin of Bunion
What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.
A bunion, also known as hallux valgus, is an outward deformity of the foot's metatarsophalangeal joint which connects the big toe to the foot. The rear tarsametatarsal joint that holds the metatarsal bone in a straight-ahead position weakens, and the metatarsal moves outward and rotates 90 degrees, bringing the sesamoids up against the adjacent toe.
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The Story of Bunion
Bunion first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a baby boy name in 1917, with 5 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 1924, when 6 Bunions were born — ranking #3,867 that year. As of 2026, Bunion ranks #3,642 for baby boys with 5 births, with steady use. In total, more than 16 Bunions have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1910s through the 2020s.
Popularity Over Time
Popularity by State
Names that sound like Bunion
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Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.
Frequently Asked Questions about Bunion
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About the name Bunion
Bunion is a boy baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1917 and has accumulated 16 births in the dataset. Bunion's peak popularity came in 1924 when it ranked #3,867. Use the chart and map above to compare Bunion's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.
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Data sources
- Birth statistics (counts, ranks, years 1880–2026) — U.S. Social Security Administration . Predictions for years not yet released by SSA are computed by Peek a Name from historical trends; we update with official data as soon as it ships.
- Etymology, cultural origins, and related forms — Behind the Name (used under their public API terms).
- Meaning prose and editorial summary — Wikipedia article extracts, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 .
- Predicted nationality distribution — Nationalize.io .
- Phonetically similar names — Datamuse .
Peek a Name aggregates and presents the above data for informational purposes. Statistical predictions and external attributions are clearly labelled where shown; we make no guarantee of accuracy beyond what each source provides.