Boy · #294 in 2026

Sonny

Name: Popularity of the name Sonny in U.S. births, 1880–2026
Creator: U.S. Social Security Administration
License: https://www.ssa.gov/foia/
Keywords: Sonny, baby name, popularity, U.S., SSA, rankings

Current Rank

#294

Peak Rank

#294 (2026)

Total Babies

23K

5-Yr Trend

+121%

1942

First Year

2026

Last Year

2023

Peak Year

#2636

Peak Rank

Total Count

Years Active

The Story of Sonny

Sonny first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a baby boy name in 1888, with 7 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 2026, when 1,141 Sonnys were born — ranking #294 that year. As of 2026, Sonny ranks #294 for baby boys with 1,141 births, rising sharply (+121% over the past five years). In total, more than 23K Sonnys have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1880s through the 2020s.

Popularity Over Time

Popularity by State

Top 10

11-50

51-100

101-500

500+

No data

Names that sound like Sonny

Phonetically similar names — useful when Sonny is the vibe but a different syllable count or letter feel might suit better. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.

Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.

Frequently Asked Questions about Sonny

What does the name Sonny mean?

Sonny is a boy's name that has been used in U.S. records since 1888. Behind the Name doesn't list a specific etymology, but the name has remained in use across multiple decades.

How popular is Sonny in 2026?

In 2026, Sonny ranks #294 among boys' names in the U.S., with 1,141 babies given the name that year.

When was Sonny most popular?

Sonny reached its peak popularity in 2026, ranking #294 that year with 1,141 babies given the name.

In which U.S. states is Sonny most popular?

Sonny has historically been most popular in U.S. Territories, Hawaii, South Dakota. Rankings vary year to year, but these states show the strongest concentration of births named Sonny.

Is Sonny a unisex name?

In U.S. Social Security records, Sonny is primarily a boy's name. We don't have meaningful data for it as a girl's name.

What names go well with Sonny?

Names that share a similar style or popularity range with Sonny include Alva, Napoleon, Delmar. These pairings are based on rank proximity and naming era in U.S. data.

About the name Sonny

Sonny is a boy baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1888 and has accumulated 23K births in the dataset. Sonny's peak popularity came in 2026 when it ranked #294. Use the chart and map above to compare Sonny's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.

Continue exploring

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.