Tonja

♀ Girl

Pronounced TAHN-yuh /ˈtɑːn.jə/Medium

Meaning: A Slavic-styled spelling of Tonya/Tanya, a short form of Antonia (from a Roman family name) or Tatiana. The -j- spelling gives it a continental look.Medium

In 30 seconds: Tonja is a mid-century spelling of Tonya/Tanya, short for Antonia or Tatiana (said 'TAHN-yuh').

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Origin MediumEnglish, Russian

MeaningA Slavic-styled spelling of Tonya/Tanya, a short form of Antonia (from a Roman family name) or Tatiana. The -j- spelling gives it a continental look.

U.S. rank (2005)#16305 ↘ Falling

2005 U.S. births6 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)

Peak year1967

Total births (all-time)≈ 6,989

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

Tonja is a variant of Tonya or Tanya, short forms of Antonia or Tatiana. The Tanya family caught American fashion mid-century, and the -j- spelling crested around 1967 before fading, now a period marker with a faux-Slavic flourish.

A few thousand American girls received it in all; Tonja now reads as a vintage 1960s variant.

Did you know? Tonja peaked around 1967 and faded within a couple of decades, a continental-looking spelling of Tonya.

Overall data confidence 70%

References — Tonja — Variant of Tonya/Tanya; short for Antonia/Tatiana

Variations

TonyaTanjaTonia

Nicknames

ToniTonie

Famous Bearers

Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Tonja…

Tonya— the parent name Tonja respells

Tanya— a co-source form

Sonja— a like -ja spelling

Anya— a like Slavic-styled name

Explore names like Tonja

By themevintage variant 1960s

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Tonja mean?

Tonja is a variant of Tonya or Tanya, short forms of Antonia or Tatiana.

How do you pronounce Tonja?

It's said TAHN-yuh /ˈtɑːn.jə/ — two syllables, stress on the first.

Is Tonja a boy or girl name?

Tonja is used as a girl's name.

Is Tonja making a comeback?

Not notably — it's a nineteen-sixties favorite that has been uncommon since, a vintage spelling of Tonya.