Girl · #11,738 in 2026

Tonye

Tonye is a given name and a surname. It is a feminine given name variant of the French and Latin Antoinette. As a surname, it is most prevalent in Cameroon. Tamunotonye and its shortened version Tonye are Ijaw unisex given names that are prominent in Nigeria where it is most commonly used among the Kalabari, Okrika, and Nembe people of Rivers State, Bayelsa State, and Delta State.

Current Rank
#11,738
Peak Rank
#5,474 (1964)
Total Babies
68
5-Yr Trend
Stable
1950
First Year
1992
Last Year
1964
Peak Year
#5474
Peak Rank
68
Total Count
12
Years Active

Meaning & Origin of Tonye

What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.

Tonye is a given name and a surname. It is a feminine given name variant of the French and Latin Antoinette. As a surname, it is most prevalent in Cameroon. Tamunotonye and its shortened version Tonye are Ijaw unisex given names that are prominent in Nigeria where it is most commonly used among the Kalabari, Okrika, and Nembe people of Rivers State, Bayelsa State, and Delta State.

Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →

The Story of Tonye

Tonye first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a baby girl name in 1950, with 5 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 1964, when 7 Tonyes were born — ranking #5,474 that year. As of 2026, Tonye ranks #11,738 for baby girls with 6 births, with steady use. In total, more than 68 Tonyes have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1950s through the 2020s.

Popularity Over Time

Popularity by State

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Top 10
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No data

Names that sound like Tonye

Phonetically similar names — useful when Tonye 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 Tonye

What does the name Tonye mean?
Tonye is a given name and a surname. It is a feminine given name variant of the French and Latin Antoinette. As a surname, it is most prevalent in Cameroon. Tamunotonye and its shortened version Tonye are Ijaw unisex given names that are prominent in Nigeria where it is most commonly used among the Kalabari, Okrika, and Nembe people of Rivers State, Bayelsa State, and Delta State.
How popular is Tonye in 2026?
In 2026, Tonye ranks #11,738 among girls' names in the U.S., with 6 babies given the name that year.
When was Tonye most popular?
Tonye reached its peak popularity in 1964, ranking #5,474 that year with 7 babies given the name.
Is Tonye a unisex name?
In U.S. Social Security records, Tonye is primarily a girl's name. We don't have meaningful data for it as a boy's name.
What names go well with Tonye?
Names that share a similar style or popularity range with Tonye include Valina, Angia, Leonetta. These pairings are based on rank proximity and naming era in U.S. data.

Similar Names

👧
Valina
Peak #5474
👧
Angia
Peak #5474
👧
Leonetta
Peak #5474
👧
Gwynette
Peak #5474
👧
Judean
Peak #5474
👧
Brenita
Peak #5474
👧
Nanine
Peak #5474
👧
Inta
Peak #5474

About the name Tonye

Tonye is a girl baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1950 and has accumulated 68 births in the dataset. Tonye's peak popularity came in 1964 when it ranked #5,474. Use the chart and map above to compare Tonye'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.