Bonnie Girl
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: BON-ee //ˈbɒni//
Origin: Scottish; English
Meaning: Scottish: pretty; English: good
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Bonnie has its roots in the Scottish language, derived from the word "bonnie," which means "pretty" or "attractive." This term can be traced back to the Old French word "bon," meaning "good," which entered Scottish vernacular during the medieval period. The transition into English occurred as the name began to be used as a given name in the 18th century, particularly in Scotland, where it became associated with charm and beauty.
Historically, the name Bonnie gained prominence through various cultural references, most notably in the 18th century with the publication of the poem "My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean" in the early 19th century. This poem, which expresses longing and nostalgia, contributed to the name's romantic connotations.
Additionally, Bonnie was used in literature and songs, further embedding it in the cultural fabric of English-speaking societies. The name also appears in Scottish folklore and songs, reinforcing its connection to the themes of beauty and affection.
Culturally, Bonnie has been embraced for its positive associations, often symbolizing youthfulness and charm. The name has been used in various forms of art and literature, enhancing its resonance within Scottish and broader English-speaking traditions.
While diminutive forms such as Bonny or Bonnie may exist, the name itself has maintained a distinct identity, celebrated for its lyrical quality and endearing meaning. Overall, Bonnie encapsulates a blend of linguistic heritage and cultural significance, reflecting ideals of beauty and affection that have endured through the centuries.
Famous people named Bonnie
In this section, you will find notable people named Bonnie. We include individuals across a wide range of fields, including actors known for their work in film, television, and stage productions. You'll also find musicians, directors, and other public figures named Bonnie who have made a significant impact on popular culture.
We also feature individuals named Bonnie who have made meaningful contributions to science, politics, athletics, literature, and other areas of public interest.
Please note that not every baby name in our database currently has a famous namesake listed. If you would like to suggest a name we may have missed or submit a correction, feel free to contact us. We review and finalize additions and corrections within 24 hours.
Bonnie Tyler is a singer best known for Total Eclipse of the Heart, Holding Out for a Hero, and It's a Heartache.
Bonnie Hunt is an actress, comedian, and writer best known for Jerry Maguire, The Green Mile, and The Bonnie Hunt Show.
Bonnie Raitt is a singer-songwriter and guitarist best known for I Can't Make You Love Me, Something to Talk About, and Nick of Time.
Bonnie Wright is an actress best known for her role as Ginny Weasley in the Harry Potter film series.
Bonnie Bedelia is an actress best known for her roles in Die Hard, Presumed Innocent, and Parenthood.
Fictional characters named Bonnie
The following list of fictional characters named Bonnie is a work in progress. If you would like to suggest an additional character, please send us the character's name along with a brief, one-sentence description of what they are best known for.
You may also submit corrections, which we will review and update as quickly as possible.
Bonnie Bennett is a fictional character from the TV series The Vampire Diaries. She is a powerful witch and one of the main characters who often helps her friends confront supernatural threats.
Bonnie Parker is a fictional character from the film and media portrayals of Bonnie and Clyde. She is a notorious bank robber and partner to Clyde Barrow during the Great Depression.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Bonnie, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.
Similar names
Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Bonnie. These names can serve as alternatives to the sibling suggestions listed above and may help you find the perfect complementary name for your growing family.
U.S. Historical Usage
The name Bonnie was first seen in the United States in 1880.
Bonnie has ranked as high as #64 nationally, which occurred in 1947, and has been most popular in New York, California, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Illinois.
In the past 5 years the name Bonnie has been trending up compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Bonnie is part of our comprehensive baby names database, which includes Social Security Administration (SSA) data dating back to 1880—the first official year of state and national tracking. The chart below shows when Bonnie was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.
Top States for Bonnie (2024)
We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. In some cases, you may see four or five states listed. However, we only display states where the name represents a significant percentage of births, so the number of states shown can range from one to several.
| State | Births | Share |
|---|---|---|
| TX | 104 | |
| CA | 80 | |
| TN | 28 | |
| FL | 28 | |
| OH | 25 | |
| IN | 24 | |
| NC | 24 | |
| WA | 23 | |
| MO | 23 | |
| GA | 21 | |
| AZ | 19 | |
| CO | 19 | |
| UT | 18 | |
| AL | 18 | |
| NY | 17 |
Popularity Over Time (National) — Table
We track the national popularity of each baby name annually. The table below displays each year along with the number of births reported by the Social Security Administration. This data combines all state-level reporting from the SSA's baby names database to provide a comprehensive view of overall birth counts for Bonnie.
| Year | Births |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 703 |
| 2023 | 605 |
| 2022 | 591 |
| 2021 | 604 |
| 2020 | 481 |
| 2019 | 450 |
| 2018 | 420 |
| 2017 | 416 |
| 2016 | 312 |
| 2015 | 323 |
| 2014 | 318 |
| 2013 | 237 |
| 2012 | 225 |
| 2011 | 222 |
| 2010 | 189 |
| 2009 | 173 |
| 2008 | 184 |
| 2007 | 168 |
| 2006 | 186 |
| 2005 | 190 |
| 2004 | 201 |
| 2003 | 248 |
| 2002 | 219 |
| 2001 | 255 |
| 2000 | 235 |
| 1999 | 265 |
| 1998 | 308 |
| 1997 | 347 |
| 1996 | 386 |
| 1995 | 387 |
| 1994 | 464 |
| 1993 | 442 |
| 1992 | 554 |
| 1991 | 574 |
| 1990 | 694 |
| 1989 | 764 |
| 1988 | 831 |
| 1987 | 984 |
| 1986 | 1,092 |
| 1985 | 1,177 |
| 1984 | 1,273 |
| 1983 | 1,276 |
| 1982 | 1,368 |
| 1981 | 1,624 |
| 1980 | 1,710 |
| 1979 | 1,627 |
| 1978 | 1,090 |
| 1977 | 1,341 |
| 1976 | 1,204 |
| 1975 | 1,345 |
| 1974 | 1,452 |
| 1973 | 1,686 |
| 1972 | 1,853 |
| 1971 | 2,329 |
| 1970 | 2,747 |
| 1969 | 2,647 |
| 1968 | 2,953 |
| 1967 | 3,371 |
| 1966 | 3,841 |
| 1965 | 4,129 |
| 1964 | 4,687 |
| 1963 | 5,227 |
| 1962 | 5,810 |
| 1961 | 6,032 |
| 1960 | 6,391 |
| 1959 | 6,458 |
| 1958 | 6,995 |
| 1957 | 7,241 |
| 1956 | 8,132 |
| 1955 | 8,637 |
| 1954 | 8,099 |
| 1953 | 8,615 |
| 1952 | 9,382 |
| 1951 | 9,706 |
| 1950 | 9,746 |
| 1949 | 9,731 |
| 1948 | 9,818 |
| 1947 | 10,215 |
| 1946 | 9,510 |
| 1945 | 7,745 |
| 1944 | 8,456 |
| 1943 | 8,870 |
| 1942 | 8,823 |
| 1941 | 7,761 |
| 1940 | 5,957 |
| 1939 | 3,887 |
| 1938 | 3,773 |
| 1937 | 3,595 |
| 1936 | 3,373 |
| 1935 | 3,611 |
| 1934 | 3,753 |
| 1933 | 3,372 |
| 1932 | 3,621 |
| 1931 | 3,552 |
| 1930 | 3,265 |
| 1929 | 2,974 |
| 1928 | 2,923 |
| 1927 | 2,796 |
| 1926 | 2,609 |
| 1925 | 2,532 |
| 1924 | 2,296 |
| 1923 | 2,094 |
| 1922 | 1,824 |
| 1921 | 1,609 |
| 1920 | 1,515 |
| 1919 | 1,343 |
| 1918 | 1,151 |
| 1917 | 1,177 |
| 1916 | 992 |
| 1915 | 939 |
| 1914 | 783 |
| 1913 | 648 |
| 1912 | 539 |
| 1911 | 389 |
| 1910 | 374 |
| 1909 | 337 |
| 1908 | 299 |
| 1907 | 279 |
| 1906 | 268 |
| 1905 | 264 |
| 1904 | 268 |
| 1903 | 200 |
| 1902 | 182 |
| 1901 | 179 |
| 1900 | 220 |
| 1899 | 159 |
| 1898 | 187 |
| 1897 | 142 |
| 1896 | 163 |
| 1895 | 129 |
| 1894 | 119 |
| 1893 | 120 |
| 1892 | 126 |
| 1891 | 100 |
| 1890 | 98 |
| 1889 | 68 |
| 1888 | 70 |
| 1887 | 59 |
| 1886 | 40 |
| 1885 | 53 |
| 1884 | 32 |
| 1883 | 21 |
| 1882 | 19 |
| 1881 | 25 |
| 1880 | 14 |