Bonnie first name popularity, history and meaning

Find out how popular the first name Bonnie has been for the last 50 years (from 1974 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Meaning of Bonnie

Bonnie is a feminine name derived from the word "bonnie" meaning "pretty" or "attractive" in Scottish.

Popularity of Bonnie by gender

Based on the last 50 years of data, Bonnie is more commonly used as a female name, with approximately 99% of people named Bonnie being female.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 603 female babies and 5 male babies born with the name Bonnie.

Yes—according to the SSA data, 5 baby boys were named Bonnie in 2023, despite it being a predominantly female name. We'd love to know why!

Year Male Count Female Count
2023 5 603
2022 0 586
2021 0 601
2020 0 480
2019 0 449
2018 0 419
2017 0 416
2016 0 311
2015 0 323
2014 0 318
2013 0 237
2012 0 224
2011 0 222
2010 0 189
2009 0 173
2008 0 184
2007 0 168
2006 0 186
2005 0 190
2004 0 201
2003 0 248
2002 0 219
2001 0 255
2000 0 235
1999 0 265
1998 0 308
1997 0 347
1996 0 386
1995 0 387
1994 5 464
1993 5 442
1992 0 554
1991 10 574
1990 10 694
1989 10 764
1988 7 831
1987 11 984
1986 10 1,092
1985 10 1,176
1984 18 1,273
1983 7 1,277
1982 16 1,368
1981 12 1,624
1980 13 1,711
1979 11 1,627
1978 8 1,090
1977 11 1,341
1976 10 1,204
1975 18 1,345
1974 18 1,451

The history of the first name Bonnie

The name Bonnie has its origins in the Scottish language, derived from the French word "bonne," meaning "good." It is believed to have first emerged as a given name in Scotland during the Middle Ages, around the 13th or 14th century.

The name Bonnie was initially used as a descriptive term, referring to a person's attractive or pleasing appearance or demeanor. Over time, it transitioned into a popular given name, particularly in Scottish and English-speaking regions.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Bonnie can be found in the famous Scottish folk ballad "The Bonnie Earl o' Moray," which dates back to the late 16th century. The ballad tells the story of George Gordon, the 6th Earl of Huntly, who was known as "The Bonnie Earl" due to his handsome appearance.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Bonnie. One of the most famous was Bonnie Parker (1910-1934), an American criminal who, along with her partner Clyde Barrow, gained notoriety during the Great Depression as part of the infamous Bonnie and Clyde gang.

Another well-known Bonnie was Bonnie Raitt (born 1949), an acclaimed American blues singer-songwriter and guitarist. She has won multiple Grammy Awards and is known for her influential contributions to the blues and roots rock genres.

In literature, the name Bonnie appears in the novel "Gone with the Wind" by Margaret Mitchell, as the name of one of the main characters, Bonnie Butler, the daughter of Scarlett O'Hara and Rhett Butler.

Other notable individuals with the name Bonnie include Bonnie Blair (born 1964), an American speed skater who won multiple Olympic gold medals, and Bonnie Langford (born 1964), an English actress and dancer known for her roles in various musicals and television shows.

While the name Bonnie has Scottish roots, it has gained popularity worldwide and has been embraced by various cultures, particularly in English-speaking countries, as a name that conveys a sense of beauty, goodness, and charm.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Bonnie was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Bonnie, please contact us.

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If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!

"Bonnie first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on November 3, 2024. http://namecensus.com/first-names/bonnie-meaning-and-history/.

"Bonnie first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/first-names/bonnie-meaning-and-history/. Accessed 3 November, 2024

Bonnie first name popularity, history and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/first-names/bonnie-meaning-and-history/.

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