Tonnette
A French feminine diminutive of Antoinette, meaning "highly praise-worthy".
Name Census estimates that about 323 living Americans carry the first name Tonnette. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Tonnette today is around 57 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Tonnette births was 1969 (33 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Tonnette. 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
323
~ 1 in 1,061,159 Americans
Peak year
1969
33 babies that year
Average age
57
years old
1991 SSA rank
#15,308
Tracked since 1953
Popularity
Tonnette: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Tonnette from the 1950s through to the 1990s, spanning 5 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1960s, with 193 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 1960s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Tonnette 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 Tonnette during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Tonnettes live
Origin
Meaning and history of Tonnette
The given name Tonnette has its origins in the French language, with roots tracing back to the 17th century. It is believed to be a diminutive form of the French name Antoinette, which itself derives from the ancient Roman family name Antonius. The name Antoinette became popular in France during the Middle Ages, particularly among the nobility and upper classes.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Tonnette can be found in the writings of French author and playwright Molière, who featured a character named Tonnette in his 1668 comedy "The Miser." This suggests that the name was in use, at least among certain social circles, during the latter half of the 17th century in France.
In the 18th century, a notable figure named Tonnette-Désirée Perrotin (1758-1838) gained recognition as a French painter and miniaturist. Her works were exhibited at the Paris Salon and garnered critical acclaim, showcasing the artistic talents of a woman bearing this relatively uncommon name during that era.
Moving into the 19th century, Tonnette Marguerite Louvet (1835-1913) was a French novelist and playwright who achieved literary success with her works exploring themes of love, family, and social commentary. Her plays were performed in prominent Parisian theaters, and her novels received positive reviews from contemporary critics.
Across the Atlantic, Tonnette Monternier (1860-1932) was a Canadian artist and educator who made significant contributions to the arts community in Quebec. She founded the Montreal Society of Arts and Crafts and played a pivotal role in promoting and preserving the region's cultural heritage through her work.
In more recent times, Tonnette Stanford (1920-2008) was an American actress and singer who appeared in several Broadway musicals and Hollywood films during the mid-20th century. Her performances in productions such as "Kiss Me, Kate" and "Guys and Dolls" solidified her reputation as a talented performer on the stage and screen.
While the name Tonnette may not be as widely used today as it once was, its historical roots and the achievements of those who bore it serve as a testament to its enduring cultural significance and the diverse contributions made by individuals with this unique moniker.
People
Tonnette + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Tonnette as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with T
Other first names starting with T with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Tonnette: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Tonnette?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 323 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Tonnette 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 1,061,159 US residents.
Is Tonnette a common name?
We classify Tonnette as "Very Rare". It ranks above 80% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 382 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Tonnette most popular?
The single biggest year for Tonnette was 1969, when 33 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Tonnette is about 57 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Tonnette a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Tonnette 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.