How to say it
SON · ny
ˈsʌn.i
Masculine
Sonny
Son, little boy
What it means
An English nickname name, simply 'son,' long used as an affectionate term for a boy.
Sonny began as a term of endearment, the warm thing you call a young boy, and grew into a name in its own right. It has a retro, mid-century swagger, carried by boxer Sonny Liston, singer Sonny Bono, and the hot-headed Sonny Corleone of The Godfather (born Santino). It is rising again, especially in the UK, as parents reach for cheerful old nicknames. Sunny is the sunnier spelling.
How to spell Sonny
The standard spelling is Sonny. Common variants include Sunny, Sonnie, but Sonny is the most widely used form.
Popularity over time
peaked at #298 in 2025, currently #298 in 2025.
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, names given to at least 5 babies in a year, 1880–2025. Reviewed July 2026. See where the names are moving
Heads-up notes
- Spelling
An affectionate word for a boy, used as a given name; Sunny is the variant.
- Pop culture
Sonny Bono, Sonny Liston, and Sonny Corleone all carry it.
Who's worn it
Historical figures, characters, and public faces who share the name. The cultural surface, for whatever weight you want to give it.
- Sonny Bono musician of Sonny & Cher and later a US congressman
Spelling variants
- Sunny
- Sonnie
Names with the same feeling
Common questions
- What does the name Sonny mean?
- An English nickname name, simply 'son,' long used as an affectionate term for a boy.
- What does Sonny mean in English?
- In English, Sonny means "Son, little boy." Sonny began as a term of endearment, the warm thing you call a young boy, and grew into a name in its own right. It has a retro, mid-century swagger, carried by boxer Sonny Liston, singer Sonny Bono, and the hot-headed Sonny Corleone of The Godfather (born Santino). It is rising again, especially in the UK, as parents reach for cheerful old nicknames. Sunny is the sunnier spelling.
- How do you pronounce Sonny?
- Sonny is pronounced ˈsʌn.i. Say it as SON-ny, with the stress on the "son" syllable.
- How do you spell Sonny?
- The standard spelling is Sonny. Common spelling variants include Sunny, Sonnie.
- Is Sonny a boy or girl name?
- Sonny is traditionally a masculine name.
- How popular is the name Sonny?
- Sonny ranked #298 in the U.S. in 2025, according to Social Security Administration data.