Nonie
Diminutive form of Naomi, a Hebrew name meaning "pleasant".
Name Census estimates that about 328 living Americans carry the first name Nonie. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Nonie today is around 68 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Nonie births was 1917 (29 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Nonie. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
Key insights
- • The typical person named Nonie is about 68 years old today, placing it firmly among the names of earlier generations. Most living Nonies were born before 1968.
People living today
328
~ 1 in 1,044,983 Americans
Peak year
1917
29 babies that year
Average age
68
years old
2023 SSA rank
#16,948
Tracked since 1880
Popularity
Nonie: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Nonie from the 1880s through to the 2020s, spanning 12 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1910s, with 193 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 1910s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Nonie by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Nonie during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Nonies live
The SSA's state-level files cover 4 states and territories. North Carolina, California, Georgia recorded the most babies named Nonie, while Louisiana, Georgia, California recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 7 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Nonie
The name Nonie has its origins in the English language, derived from the nickname "Nona" or "Nonna," which was a term of endearment for a grandmother. The name is believed to have emerged in the late 18th or early 19th century, particularly in regions of the United Kingdom and parts of the United States with strong English influence.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Nonie can be found in the 1841 census records of England and Wales, where a young girl named Nonie Elizabeth Hamer was listed as residing in the county of Lancashire. However, it is possible that the name was in use earlier, as records from that era were often incomplete or inconsistent.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Nonie. One such figure was Nonie Clarina Michaelius Wetherill (1844-1920), an American botanist and artist from Philadelphia, who was known for her contributions to the study of plant life in the eastern United States.
Another prominent Nonie was Nonie Parry (1900-1973), a Welsh actress and singer who gained fame for her performances in various stage productions and films during the early 20th century. Her most notable roles included appearances in the plays "The Constant Nymph" and "The Admirable Crichton."
In the literary world, Nonie Lecomte (1922-2004) was a French writer and novelist known for her works exploring themes of love, relationships, and the complexities of human existence. Her novels, such as "La Vie, Cette Aventure" and "Le Temps des Amours," garnered critical acclaim and contributed to the French literary landscape.
The name Nonie also graced the stage in the form of Nonie Bright (1925-2011), an American actress and singer who enjoyed a successful career in Broadway musicals and television productions throughout the mid-20th century. Her performances in shows like "Funny Girl" and "The Music Man" showcased her talent and versatility.
Another notable figure bearing the name Nonie was Nonie Kapahi (1927-2012), an Indian classical dancer and choreographer renowned for her contributions to the preservation and promotion of traditional Indian dance forms. Her performances and teachings left a lasting impact on the world of classical Indian dance.
While the name Nonie may not have been as widely popular as some other names throughout history, it has left its mark across various fields, from the arts and literature to the sciences and beyond. The individuals mentioned above serve as a testament to the diverse and accomplished individuals who have carried this name over the centuries.
People
Nonie + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Nonie as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with N
Other first names starting with N with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Nonie: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Nonie?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 328 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Nonie going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 1,044,983 US residents.
Is Nonie a common name?
We classify Nonie as "Very Rare". It ranks above 80.2% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 1,363 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Nonie most popular?
The single biggest year for Nonie was 1917, when 29 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Nonie is about 68 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Nonie a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Nonie in the SSA data are female. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.