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Home › Baby Names Directory › Tonya

Tonya

♀ Girl

Pronounced TON-yah /ˈtɒn.jɑ/Medium

Meaning: A pet form, variously of Antonia ('priceless; praiseworthy', from the Roman Antonius) and the Russian Tatiana; routes layeredLow

In 30 seconds: Priceless; praiseworthy: Tonya pets Antonia/Tatiana. Friendly, modern, and warm (said 'TON-yah').
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Origin LowLatin, Russian
MeaningA pet form, variously of Antonia ('priceless; praiseworthy', from the Roman Antonius) and the Russian Tatiana; routes layered
U.S. rank (2025)#9412 ↘ Falling
2025 U.S. births11 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)
Peak year1972
Total births (all-time)≈ 120,423

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 197219232025

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

Tonya is a pet form — variously of Antonia, from the Roman Antonius, folk-linked to 'priceless; praiseworthy', and of the Russian Tatiana (routes layered, which we note). A friendly, modern name (nicknames Toni, Tanya).

In the U.S. it peaked in the 1960s-70s. Rare today, priceless-and-praiseworthy at the (folk) root, and friendly.

Did you know? Antonia comes from the Roman Antonius, folk-linked to 'priceless; praiseworthy' — Tonya is a pet form (also of the Russian Tatiana), friendly and modern (the routes are layered, which we note; said 'TON-yah').
Overall data confidence 50%
References — Tonya — routes layered

Variations

ToniaTanyaAntonia

Nicknames

Toni

Famous Bearers

  • Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Tonya…

Tanya— a sound-neighbor -nya girls' name
Sonya— a companion -nya girls' name
Zoya— lands in the same popularity range
Vanya— lands in the same popularity range
Katya— a fellow Russian choice

Explore names like Tonya

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Tonya mean?

Tonya pets Antonia ('priceless; praiseworthy') and the Russian Tatiana; the routes are layered.

How do you pronounce Tonya?

It's said TON-yah /ˈtɒn.jɑ/ — two syllables, stress on the first.

Is Tonya a boy or girl name?

Tonya is a girl's name.

How popular is Tonya?

Tonya is a rare name in the U.S. today.

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