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 (2025)#1078 ↘ Falling

2025 U.S. births200 boys (0.01% of U.S. boys)

Peak year2024

Total births (all-time)≈ 4,502

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

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

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

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

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

Explore names like Sunny

By themeenglish unisex word-name two-syllable cheerful sun

By meaningLight Sun Joy

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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.