Sun
Sun is a transliteration of a common Chinese surname. It is the third name listed in the Song dynasty classic text Hundred Family Surnames.
Meaning & Origin of Sun
What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.
Sun is a transliteration of a common Chinese surname. It is the third name listed in the Song dynasty classic text Hundred Family Surnames.
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →
The Story of Sun
As a girl name
Sun first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a girl name in 1939, with 6 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 1971, when 16 Suns were born — ranking #3,789 that year. As of 2026, Sun ranks #12,180 for girls with 7 births, with steady use. In total, more than 498 Suns have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1930s through the 2020s.
As a boy name
Sun first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a boy name in 1902, with 5 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 2026, when 21 Suns were born — ranking #4,819 that year. As of 2026, Sun ranks #4,819 for boys with 21 births, rising sharply (+68% over the past five years). In total, more than 531 Suns have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1900s through the 2020s.
Popularity Over Time
Popularity by State
Names that sound like Sun
Phonetically similar names — useful when Sun 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 Sun
What does the name Sun mean?
How popular is Sun in 2026?
When was Sun most popular?
In which U.S. states is Sun most popular?
Is Sun a unisex name?
What names go well with Sun?
About the name Sun
Sun is a unisex baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1902 and has accumulated 531 births in the dataset. Sun's peak popularity came in 2026 when it ranked #1,137. Use the chart and map above to compare Sun's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.
Continue exploring
- Top names of 2026 →
- Names of the 2020s →
- Names starting with "S" →
- Browse all boy names →
- Top names of 2026 →
- Browse unisex names →
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.