Sonnet
A feminine name derived from the poetic term for a 14-line verse.
Name Census estimates that about 355 living Americans carry the first name Sonnet. It is a predominantly female name (98.6% of registrations). The average person named Sonnet today is around 24 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Sonnet births was 2024 (25 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Sonnet. 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.
People living today
355
~ 1 in 965,505 Americans
Peak year
2024
25 babies that year
Average age
24
years old
2024 SSA rank
#6,106
Tracked since 1972
Gender
Gender distribution for Sonnet
Sonnet leans heavily female at 98.6% of total registrations, but 5 boys have also been registered with the name over the years, giving it a small but present crossover presence.
Sonnet as a male name
- Ranked #13,913 in 2024
- 5 male births in 2024
- Peak: 2024 (5 births)
Sonnet as a female name
- Ranked #6,106 in 2024
- 20 female births in 2024
- Peak: 2024 (20 births)
Popularity
Sonnet: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Sonnet from the 1970s through to the 2020s, spanning 6 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2010s, with 95 total registrations. Although the numbers have come down from the 2010s peak, Sonnet remains solidly in use and shows no sign of disappearing from maternity wards.
Babies born per year
Decades
Sonnet 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 Sonnet during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Sonnets live
Origin
Meaning and history of Sonnet
The name Sonnet has its origins in the Italian language, derived from the word "sonetto," which means a small or little sound. It emerged during the Renaissance period in Italy, around the 13th or 14th century, and was initially associated with a poetic form consisting of 14 lines.
One of the earliest known references to the name Sonnet can be found in the works of the renowned Italian poet Petrarch, who lived from 1304 to 1374. He is credited with popularizing the sonnet form in his collection of poems, "Il Canzoniere," which contained numerous sonnets dedicated to his unrequited love, Laura.
The name Sonnet gained further prominence during the Elizabethan era in England, when the sonnet form became widely celebrated and embraced by notable poets such as William Shakespeare (1564-1616). Shakespeare's collection of 154 sonnets, published in 1609, is considered one of the most influential works of English literature and contributed significantly to the popularity of the name.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Sonnet. One such person was Sonnet Munro (1965-present), an American poet and educator known for her work exploring themes of identity, nature, and the human experience. Another notable Sonnet was Sonnet L'Abbé (1909-1976), a Canadian poet and author who played a significant role in the modernist literary movement in her country.
In the realm of music, Sonnet Simmons (1933-2021) was an American jazz pianist and composer who made substantial contributions to the free jazz movement. Her unique improvisational style and innovative approach to music earned her a dedicated following and critical acclaim.
Additionally, Sonnet Standly (1886-1963) was an American vaudeville performer and actress who appeared in various stage productions and films during the early 20th century. Her talent and charisma on stage earned her a lasting legacy in the world of entertainment.
While the name Sonnet may not be as commonly used today as it once was, it remains a unique and evocative name with a rich cultural and literary heritage, reflecting the enduring influence of poetry and artistic expression across centuries.
People
Sonnet + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Sonnet as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with S
Other first names starting with S with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Sonnet: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Sonnet?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 355 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Sonnet 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 965,505 US residents.
Is Sonnet a common name?
We classify Sonnet as "Very Rare". It ranks above 81% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 368 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Sonnet most popular?
The single biggest year for Sonnet was 2024, when 25 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Sonnet is about 24 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Sonnet a female name?
Yes, 98.6% of people registered as Sonnet 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.