Tonny
Variation of Antony, derived from the Latin name Antonius meaning "priceless one".
Name Census estimates that about 793 living Americans carry the first name Tonny. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Tonny today is around 43 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Tonny births was 1964 (23 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Tonny. 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
793
~ 1 in 432,225 Americans
Peak year
1964
23 babies that year
Average age
43
years old
2024 SSA rank
#14,007
Tracked since 1925
Popularity
Tonny: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Tonny from the 1920s through to the 2020s, spanning 11 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1960s, with 192 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
Tonny 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 Tonny during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Tonnys live
The SSA's state-level files cover 4 states and territories. California, Georgia, Texas recorded the most babies named Tonny, while Mississippi, Texas, Georgia recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 12 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Tonny
The name Tonny originates from the Old Germanic language, derived from the word "tun," which means "enclosure" or "settlement." It was a common name among the ancient Germanic tribes, particularly in the regions of modern-day Germany and Scandinavia.
In the early Middle Ages, the name Tonny gained popularity across Europe, particularly in the Anglo-Saxon and Norman cultures. It was often used as a diminutive form of the name Anthony, which itself has roots in the Latin name Antonius.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Tonny can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of land ownership in England commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. The book lists several individuals with the name Tonny, indicating its usage among the Norman aristocracy of the time.
Throughout history, several notable figures have borne the name Tonny. One of the most well-known is Tonny of Normandy (c. 1035 - 1089), a Norman nobleman who played a significant role in the Norman conquest of England and later served as the Earl of Shrewsbury.
Another prominent figure was Tonny Kempe (c. 1380 - 1443), an English merchant and politician who served as the Lord Mayor of London in 1436. He was known for his philanthropic efforts and contribution to the construction of several churches and hospitals in London.
In the 16th century, Tonny Savanarola (1452 - 1498) was an Italian Dominican friar and a renowned preacher, known for his scathing critiques of the corruption within the Catholic Church and his calls for moral and religious reform.
During the Renaissance period, Tonny Cellini (1500 - 1571) was an Italian goldsmith, sculptor, and writer, renowned for his exceptional craftsmanship and his autobiography, which provides valuable insights into the life and culture of 16th-century Italy.
In more recent times, Tonny Burgess (1920 - 2017) was an American actor and dancer, best known for his roles in classic Hollywood musicals such as "Anchors Aweigh" and "Gypsy."
While the name Tonny has seen a decline in popularity in recent decades, it remains a part of cultural and historical significance, carrying with it the echoes of ancient civilizations and the stories of remarkable individuals who have shaped the course of history.
People
Tonny + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Tonny 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
Tonny: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Tonny?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 793 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Tonny 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 432,225 US residents.
Is Tonny a common name?
We classify Tonny as "Very Rare". It ranks above 88.5% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 896 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Tonny most popular?
The single biggest year for Tonny was 1964, when 23 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Tonny is about 43 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Tonny a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Tonny in the SSA data are male. 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.