Bonny: name meaning, origin & popularity
- Meaning
- “pretty, attractive”
- Origin
- Scottish Gaelic
- Say it
- BON-ee · 2 syllables
- Used for
- Girls (96% of all uses)
From Scots bonnie, meaning 'pretty' or 'attractive,' likely influenced by French bon 'good.' It is often used as a nickname or affectionate given name.
How popular is Bonny?
Babies named Bonny in 20246
Peak year1958
Total US babies since 18806,468
Bonny is rising: use over the last five years is 2.2× what it was a decade earlier.
Names like Bonny
Variants, related forms and names with the same roots.
- Paisleychurch · Scottish Gaelic
- ElsieGod is my oath · Scottish Gaelic
- Mackenzieson of Coinneach · Scottish Gaelic
- Bonniepretty; cheerful · Scottish Gaelic
- Camryncrooked nose · Scottish Gaelic
- Fionafair, white · Scottish Gaelic
- Skyefrom the Isle of Skye · Scottish Gaelic
- Blaireplain, field · Scottish Gaelic
Bonny questions
What does the name Bonny mean?
Bonny means "pretty, attractive". It comes from Scottish Gaelic. From Scots bonnie, meaning 'pretty' or 'attractive,' likely influenced by French bon 'good.' It is often used as a nickname or affectionate given name.
Is Bonny a boy or girl name?
Bonny is mainly a girl's name in US records (96% of uses since 1880).
How popular is Bonny?
6 US babies were named Bonny in 2024. Its peak year was 1958.
How do you pronounce Bonny?
Bonny is usually pronounced BON-ee.
Birth counts: US Social Security Administration national data, 1880–2024 (names given to 5+ babies of a sex in a year). How we write meanings.