Fun Facts About the Name Bonnie
- An established favorite: Bonnie held a place in the U.S. top 100 for 40 consecutive years, from 1927 through 1966.
- More than 332 thousand babies named Bonnie: U.S. records list 332,705 babies given the name Bonnie from 1880 through 2025. Even 4,037 boys received the name Bonnie - about 1 boy for every 81 girls.
What Does the Name Bonnie Mean?
Bonnie means "pretty" or "beautiful" and comes from the Scots and northern English dialect word bonnie, also spelled bonny. The word is formed from Middle English bon 'good' - ultimately from Old French bon and Latin bonus, both meaning 'good' - with the adjective ending -ie or -y. In Scots, the sense shifted from 'good' to 'good-looking, comely, pretty,' and that is the meaning the given name carries. The literal root is 'good,' but the customary meaning in Scotland is 'beautiful, attractive.'
Bonnie Name History & Origins
Bonnie began as a descriptive word in Scots and northern English, where it was used to praise someone's appearance or to address a sweetheart. It appears in Scottish songs and ballads as a term of affection, as in the traditional song 'My Bonnie Lies over the Ocean.' The byname 'Bonnie Prince Charlie,' applied to Charles Edward Stuart (1720 - 1788), uses the word in the same descriptive sense.
As a given name, Bonnie grew out of this adjective, first as a pet name or nickname and later as a formal girl's name. It was in use in Scotland and England by the 19th century and spread to other English-speaking countries. In the 20th century it appeared in fiction and popular culture, including Margaret Mitchell's novel Gone with the Wind (1936), which includes the character Bonnie Blue Butler, and the real-life criminal duo Bonnie and Clyde.
How Popular is the Name Bonnie?
Bonnie remained among the top 100 girl names in the U.S. from 1927 to 1966. Its highest annual birth count was in 1947, and people born that year turn 79 in 2026.
U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #396 | 785 | 0.0488% |
| 2024 | #441 | 703 | 0.0436% |
| 2023 | #502 | 605 | 0.0378% |
| 2022 | #528 | 591 | 0.0361% |
| 2021 | #512 | 604 | 0.0368% |
| 2020 | #605 | 481 | 0.0298% |
| 2019 | #645 | 450 | 0.0268% |
| 2018 | #691 | 420 | 0.0247% |
| 2017 | #698 | 416 | 0.0241% |
| 2016 | #896 | 312 | 0.0176% |
| 2015 | #865 | 323 | 0.0181% |
| 2014 | #867 | 318 | 0.0178% |
| 2013 | #1,045 | 237 | 0.0135% |
| 2012 | #1,097 | 225 | 0.0128% |
| 2011 | #1,112 | 222 | 0.0126% |
| 2010 | #1,263 | 189 | 0.0106% |
| 2009 | #1,375 | 173 | 0.0094% |
| 2008 | #1,334 | 184 | 0.0097% |
| 2007 | #1,416 | 168 | 0.0087% |
| 2006 | #1,283 | 186 | 0.0098% |
| 2005 | #1,203 | 190 | 0.0103% |
| 2004 | #1,135 | 201 | 0.0109% |
| 2003 | #945 | 248 | 0.0136% |
| 2002 | #1,003 | 219 | 0.0122% |
| 2001 | #895 | 255 | 0.0142% |
| 2000 | #920 | 235 | 0.0129% |
| 1999 | #818 | 265 | 0.0149% |
| 1998 | #717 | 308 | 0.0174% |
| 1997 | #641 | 347 | 0.0199% |
| 1996 | #590 | 386 | 0.0220% |
| 1995 | #589 | 387 | 0.0220% |
| 1994 | #531 | 464 | 0.0260% |
| 1993 | #541 | 442 | 0.0244% |
| 1992 | #450 | 554 | 0.0300% |
| 1991 | #445 | 574 | 0.0306% |
| 1990 | #379 | 694 | 0.0366% |
| 1989 | #330 | 764 | 0.0414% |
| 1988 | #298 | 831 | 0.0467% |
| 1987 | #258 | 984 | 0.0566% |
| 1986 | #237 | 1,092 | 0.0637% |
| 1985 | #221 | 1,177 | 0.0684% |
| 1984 | #206 | 1,273 | 0.0756% |
| 1983 | #202 | 1,276 | 0.0764% |
| 1982 | #199 | 1,368 | 0.0808% |
| 1981 | #169 | 1,624 | 0.0974% |
| 1980 | #166 | 1,710 | 0.1030% |
| 1979 | #171 | 1,627 | 0.1014% |
| 1978 | #227 | 1,090 | 0.0712% |
| 1977 | #199 | 1,341 | 0.0875% |
| 1976 | #204 | 1,204 | 0.0822% |
| 1975 | #188 | 1,345 | 0.0923% |
| 1974 | #181 | 1,452 | 0.0989% |
| 1973 | #164 | 1,686 | 0.1156% |
| 1972 | #157 | 1,853 | 0.1218% |
| 1971 | #138 | 2,329 | 0.1400% |
| 1970 | #130 | 2,747 | 0.1571% |
| 1969 | #128 | 2,647 | 0.1569% |
| 1968 | #116 | 2,953 | 0.1800% |
| 1967 | #102 | 3,371 | 0.2042% |
| 1966 | #90 | 3,841 | 0.2270% |
| 1965 | #89 | 4,129 | 0.2339% |
| 1964 | #89 | 4,687 | 0.2474% |
| 1963 | #83 | 5,227 | 0.2712% |
| 1962 | #79 | 5,810 | 0.2954% |
| 1961 | #75 | 6,032 | 0.2989% |
| 1960 | #71 | 6,391 | 0.3161% |
| 1959 | #71 | 6,458 | 0.3192% |
| 1958 | #63 | 6,995 | 0.3477% |
| 1957 | #64 | 7,241 | 0.3541% |
| 1956 | #51 | 8,132 | 0.4050% |
| 1955 | #45 | 8,637 | 0.4417% |
| 1954 | #52 | 8,099 | 0.4171% |
| 1953 | #45 | 8,615 | 0.4579% |
| 1952 | #41 | 9,382 | 0.5059% |
| 1951 | #37 | 9,706 | 0.5390% |
| 1950 | #33 | 9,746 | 0.5689% |
| 1949 | #35 | 9,731 | 0.5688% |
| 1948 | #34 | 9,818 | 0.5782% |
| 1947 | #35 | 10,215 | 0.5762% |
| 1946 | #33 | 9,510 | 0.6052% |
| 1945 | #35 | 7,745 | 0.5925% |
| 1944 | #34 | 8,456 | 0.6371% |
| 1943 | #34 | 8,870 | 0.6357% |
| 1942 | #34 | 8,823 | 0.6532% |
| 1941 | #33 | 7,761 | 0.6424% |
| 1940 | #39 | 5,957 | 0.5209% |
| 1939 | #61 | 3,887 | 0.3545% |
| 1938 | #65 | 3,773 | 0.3419% |
| 1937 | #64 | 3,595 | 0.3379% |
| 1936 | #65 | 3,373 | 0.3242% |
| 1935 | #62 | 3,611 | 0.3444% |
| 1934 | #58 | 3,753 | 0.3594% |
| 1933 | #68 | 3,372 | 0.3345% |
| 1932 | #64 | 3,621 | 0.3393% |
| 1931 | #73 | 3,552 | 0.3336% |
| 1930 | #78 | 3,265 | 0.2900% |
| 1929 | #86 | 2,974 | 0.2664% |
| 1928 | #89 | 2,923 | 0.2534% |
| 1927 | #100 | 2,796 | 0.2345% |
| 1926 | #105 | 2,609 | 0.2201% |
| 1925 | #107 | 2,532 | 0.2080% |
| 1924 | #117 | 2,296 | 0.1838% |
| 1923 | #126 | 2,094 | 0.1736% |
| 1922 | #137 | 1,824 | 0.1519% |
| 1921 | #151 | 1,609 | 0.1305% |
| 1920 | #154 | 1,515 | 0.1264% |
| 1919 | #163 | 1,343 | 0.1188% |
| 1918 | #178 | 1,151 | 0.0994% |
| 1917 | #171 | 1,177 | 0.1089% |
| 1916 | #185 | 992 | 0.0950% |
| 1915 | #180 | 939 | 0.0954% |
| 1914 | #174 | 783 | 0.1028% |
| 1913 | #180 | 648 | 0.1038% |
| 1912 | #183 | 539 | 0.0966% |
| 1911 | #181 | 389 | 0.0930% |
| 1910 | #183 | 374 | 0.0943% |
| 1909 | #177 | 337 | 0.0971% |
| 1908 | #188 | 299 | 0.0894% |
| 1907 | #192 | 279 | 0.0876% |
| 1906 | #186 | 268 | 0.0908% |
| 1905 | #188 | 264 | 0.0905% |
| 1904 | #181 | 268 | 0.0973% |
| 1903 | #211 | 200 | 0.0763% |
| 1902 | #221 | 182 | 0.0689% |
| 1901 | #215 | 179 | 0.0748% |
| 1900 | #212 | 220 | 0.0734% |
| 1899 | #218 | 159 | 0.0682% |
| 1898 | #210 | 187 | 0.0723% |
| 1897 | #234 | 142 | 0.0606% |
| 1896 | #217 | 163 | 0.0685% |
| 1895 | #243 | 129 | 0.0552% |
| 1894 | #247 | 119 | 0.0534% |
| 1893 | #239 | 120 | 0.0564% |
| 1892 | #232 | 126 | 0.0593% |
| 1891 | #243 | 100 | 0.0539% |
| 1890 | #252 | 98 | 0.0515% |
| 1889 | #289 | 68 | 0.0381% |
| 1888 | #278 | 70 | 0.0392% |
| 1887 | #274 | 59 | 0.0404% |
| 1886 | #340 | 40 | 0.0277% |
| 1885 | #272 | 53 | 0.0398% |
| 1884 | #351 | 32 | 0.0248% |
| 1883 | #412 | 21 | 0.0187% |
| 1882 | #418 | 19 | 0.0176% |
| 1881 | #317 | 25 | 0.0272% |
| 1880 | #452 | 14 | 0.0154% |
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | #12,492 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1994 | #8,939 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1993 | #8,851 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1991 | #5,132 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 1990 | #5,029 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 1989 | #4,853 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 1988 | #5,820 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1987 | #3,995 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1986 | #4,161 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 1985 | #4,078 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 1984 | #2,624 | 18 | 0.0010% |
| 1983 | #4,981 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1982 | #2,849 | 16 | 0.0009% |
| 1981 | #3,438 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 1980 | #3,277 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 1979 | #3,587 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1978 | #4,192 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 1977 | #3,407 | 11 | 0.0007% |
| 1976 | #3,500 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 1975 | #2,374 | 18 | 0.0012% |
| 1974 | #2,287 | 18 | 0.0011% |
| 1973 | #2,416 | 16 | 0.0010% |
| 1972 | #2,338 | 16 | 0.0010% |
| 1971 | #2,289 | 17 | 0.0010% |
| 1970 | #2,308 | 16 | 0.0009% |
| 1969 | #1,685 | 24 | 0.0013% |
| 1968 | #1,698 | 22 | 0.0013% |
| 1967 | #1,765 | 20 | 0.0011% |
| 1966 | #1,585 | 24 | 0.0013% |
| 1965 | #1,517 | 26 | 0.0014% |
| 1964 | #1,492 | 28 | 0.0014% |
| 1963 | #1,427 | 30 | 0.0015% |
| 1962 | #1,246 | 39 | 0.0019% |
| 1961 | #1,574 | 26 | 0.0012% |
| 1960 | #1,229 | 41 | 0.0019% |
| 1959 | #1,230 | 40 | 0.0019% |
| 1958 | #1,164 | 44 | 0.0021% |
| 1957 | #1,319 | 35 | 0.0016% |
| 1956 | #1,094 | 48 | 0.0023% |
| 1955 | #1,183 | 40 | 0.0019% |
| 1954 | #1,097 | 47 | 0.0023% |
| 1953 | #896 | 64 | 0.0032% |
| 1952 | #896 | 62 | 0.0032% |
| 1951 | #921 | 58 | 0.0031% |
| 1950 | #935 | 54 | 0.0030% |
| 1949 | #857 | 64 | 0.0036% |
| 1948 | #799 | 72 | 0.0041% |
| 1947 | #824 | 71 | 0.0039% |
| 1946 | #842 | 61 | 0.0038% |
| 1945 | #819 | 58 | 0.0043% |
| 1944 | #802 | 61 | 0.0045% |
| 1943 | #670 | 92 | 0.0064% |
| 1942 | #701 | 84 | 0.0061% |
| 1941 | #662 | 85 | 0.0069% |
| 1940 | #759 | 66 | 0.0057% |
| 1939 | #829 | 54 | 0.0049% |
| 1938 | #710 | 74 | 0.0067% |
| 1937 | #689 | 76 | 0.0071% |
| 1936 | #637 | 82 | 0.0079% |
| 1935 | #688 | 77 | 0.0074% |
| 1934 | #611 | 94 | 0.0091% |
| 1933 | #644 | 81 | 0.0082% |
| 1932 | #633 | 89 | 0.0085% |
| 1931 | #742 | 69 | 0.0066% |
| 1930 | #749 | 72 | 0.0066% |
| 1929 | #734 | 73 | 0.0068% |
| 1928 | #768 | 71 | 0.0064% |
| 1927 | #716 | 82 | 0.0073% |
| 1926 | #737 | 75 | 0.0068% |
| 1925 | #780 | 71 | 0.0064% |
| 1924 | #787 | 73 | 0.0064% |
| 1923 | #778 | 72 | 0.0066% |
| 1922 | #810 | 69 | 0.0063% |
| 1921 | #893 | 61 | 0.0055% |
| 1920 | #826 | 66 | 0.0062% |
| 1919 | #790 | 67 | 0.0068% |
| 1918 | #841 | 61 | 0.0060% |
| 1917 | #765 | 67 | 0.0072% |
| 1916 | #663 | 79 | 0.0089% |
| 1915 | #757 | 63 | 0.0074% |
| 1914 | #753 | 49 | 0.0075% |
| 1913 | #712 | 42 | 0.0082% |
| 1912 | #803 | 30 | 0.0070% |
| 1911 | #625 | 24 | 0.0106% |
| 1910 | #712 | 18 | 0.0093% |
| 1909 | #659 | 17 | 0.0104% |
| 1908 | #714 | 14 | 0.0091% |
| 1907 | #823 | 11 | 0.0075% |
| 1906 | #863 | 9 | 0.0068% |
| 1905 | #464 | 23 | 0.0174% |
| 1904 | #541 | 17 | 0.0133% |
| 1903 | #551 | 16 | 0.0134% |
| 1902 | #754 | 10 | 0.0082% |
| 1900 | #559 | 19 | 0.0126% |
| 1899 | #622 | 11 | 0.0104% |
| 1898 | #545 | 15 | 0.0122% |
| 1897 | #731 | 9 | 0.0080% |
| 1896 | #677 | 11 | 0.0092% |
| 1895 | #609 | 12 | 0.0102% |
| 1894 | #738 | 9 | 0.0078% |
| 1893 | #1,054 | 5 | 0.0045% |
| 1892 | #606 | 12 | 0.0098% |
| 1891 | #649 | 9 | 0.0089% |
| 1890 | #670 | 9 | 0.0081% |
| 1889 | #680 | 9 | 0.0081% |
| 1888 | #760 | 8 | 0.0066% |
| 1887 | #550 | 11 | 0.0108% |
| 1885 | #771 | 7 | 0.0065% |
| 1884 | #780 | 7 | 0.0061% |
Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.
