Sunny

♂ Boy

Pronounced SUN-ee /ˈsʌn.i/High

Meaning: Sunny; bright and cheerful; from English sunny (full of sunshine, bright), from Old English sunne (sun)High

In 30 seconds: An English word name meaning 'sunny' or 'cheerful,' from the Old English sunne. One of the most optimistic names imaginable — a child named Sunny carries perpetual warmth as their very identity.

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Origin HighEnglish

MeaningSunny; bright and cheerful; from English sunny (full of sunshine, bright), from Old English sunne (sun)

U.S. rank (2024)#1049 ↗ Rising

2024 U.S. births210 boys (0.01% of U.S. boys)

Peak year2024

Total births (all-time)≈ 4,302

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

History & Origin

Sunny is the English adjective from Old English sunne (sun). As a given name it follows the tradition of nature/virtue word-names and has been used for both boys and girls in the U.S. since at least the early 20th century.

Sunny ranked #1049 for boys in 2024.

Did you know? Sonny (or Sunny) Bono (1935–1998) — half of Sonny and Cher — is perhaps the most famous American Sunny/Sonny, whose career spanned pop music and politics. He served as Mayor of Palm Springs and then as a U.S. Representative before his death in a skiing accident.

Overall data confidence 94%

U.S. Social Security Administration — popularity data

Variations

SonnySunnie

Nicknames

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Famous Bearers

★Sonny Bono (1935–1998)
American singer-songwriter and politician, one half of Sonny and Cher. Mayor of Palm Springs and U.S. Representative before his death in a ski accident.

If you like Sunny…

Sonny— the Sonny variant spelling of the same name

Sunny

Ray— one-syllable light/sun name with the same radiant warmth

Sky— one-syllable atmospheric name with the same open-air brightness

Sol— Spanish word-name for sun with the same radiant quality

Frequently Asked

What does the name Sunny mean?

Sunny means 'full of sunshine' and 'bright and cheerful,' from Old English sunne (sun).

How do you pronounce Sunny?

It's said SUN-ee — two syllables, stress on the first.

Is Sunny a boy or girl name?

Sunny is used for both sexes.

How popular is Sunny?

Sunny ranked #1049 for U.S. boys in 2024.