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

Popularity of Toni by gender

Based on the last 50 years of data, Toni is more commonly used as a female name, with approximately 97% of people named Toni being female.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 101 female babies and 10 male babies born with the name Toni.

Yes—according to the SSA data, 10 baby boys were named Toni in 2023, despite it being a predominantly female name. We'd love to know why!

The history of the first name Toni

The name Toni has its roots in the Latin language and is derived from the name Antonius, which itself is believed to have originated from the Etruscan name Antonu. The name Antonius was a prominent Roman family name, with the first recorded use dating back to the 1st century BC.

Toni is a diminutive form of the name Antonius, and its earliest recorded use can be traced back to the Middle Ages in various European regions. In Italy, Toni was a common nickname for Antonio, while in Germany and other Germanic regions, it was used as a diminutive for Anton.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the name Toni was Toni de Vivaldi, an Italian composer and violinist who lived from 1678 to 1741. He was a contemporary of the renowned composer Antonio Vivaldi and is known for his contributions to the development of the concerto grosso form.

In the literary world, Toni Morrison, born in 1931, was an American novelist, essayist, and professor who won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1993. Her novels, such as "Beloved" and "The Bluest Eye," explored the experiences of African Americans and addressed themes of race, identity, and discrimination.

Toni Kroos, born in 1990, is a German professional football player who has played for clubs like Bayern Munich and Real Madrid. He is widely regarded as one of the best midfielders of his generation and has won numerous titles, including the FIFA World Cup in 2014 with the German national team.

In the world of art, Toni Frissell, who lived from 1907 to 1988, was an American photographer renowned for her fashion photography and portraits. Her work appeared in publications like Vogue and Harper's Bazaar, and she was among the first women to be hired as a staff photographer for Life magazine.

Toni Cade Bambara, an African American writer, activist, and filmmaker, lived from 1939 to 1995. Her works, such as the short story collection "Gorilla, My Love," explored themes of racial injustice, feminism, and social change, and she was a prominent figure in the Black Arts Movement of the 1960s and 1970s.

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 Toni was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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