Jonny Unisex
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: JON-ee //ˈdʒɒni//
Origin: Hebrew; English
Meaning: Hebrew: God is gracious; English: diminutive of Jonathan
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Jonny is a diminutive form of the name Jonathan, which has its roots in the Hebrew name Yonatan (יוֹנָתָן), meaning "Yahweh has given." This name appears in the Hebrew Bible, where Jonathan is notably recognized as the son of King Saul and a close friend of David, a significant figure in biblical history. The name transitioned into Greek as Iōnathas and later into Latin as Jonathanus, before making its way into Old French as Jonathas.
The English form Jonathan emerged in the Middle Ages, with Jonny developing as a familiar or affectionate variant in the modern era. Throughout history, the name Jonathan has been borne by various notable figures, including saints and scholars.
One prominent example is Saint Jonathan, a martyr from the early Christian period, who is commemorated in various Christian traditions. The name's biblical association contributed to its enduring presence in Christian communities, particularly during the Renaissance when biblical names gained renewed interest due to translations of the Bible, such as the King James Version in the early 17th century.
Culturally, the name Jonny, as a diminutive, carries connotations of warmth and familiarity, often used in familial or friendly contexts. The use of diminutives in names is a common linguistic practice across many cultures, reflecting affection or intimacy.
The name's historical significance, combined with its biblical roots, has allowed it to resonate across generations, symbolizing loyalty and friendship, much like the bond between Jonathan and David in the biblical narrative.
Famous people named Jonny
In this section, you will find notable people named Jonny. 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 Jonny who have made a significant impact on popular culture.
We also feature individuals named Jonny 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.
Jonny Depp is an actor best known for Pirates of the Caribbean, Edward Scissorhands, and Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street.
Jonny Lee Miller is an actor best known for Trainspotting, Hackers, and Elementary.
Jonny Wilkinson is a former rugby player best known for winning the 2003 Rugby World Cup and his drop goal in the final.
Jonny Craig is a musician best known for his work with the bands Emarosa, Dance Gavin Dance, and Isles & Glaciers.
Jonny Bairstow is a cricketer best known for his performances with the England national team and Yorkshire County Cricket Club.
Jonny Gomes is a former baseball player best known for his time with the Tampa Bay Rays, Boston Red Sox, and Oakland Athletics.
Fictional characters named Jonny
The following list of fictional characters named Jonny 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.
Jonny is a fictional character from the animated series Jonny Quest. He is the adventurous son of the main character, Dr. Benton Quest, and often accompanies his father on dangerous missions.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Jonny, 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 Jonny. 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 Jonny was first seen in the United States in 1912.
Jonny has ranked as high as #1321 nationally, which occurred in 2008, and has been most popular in California, Texas, New York, Florida, and Illinois.
In the past 5 years the name Jonny has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Jonny 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 Jonny was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.
Top States for Jonny (2023)
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 |
|---|---|---|
| CA | 7 | |
| TX | 6 |
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 Jonny.
| Year | Births |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 29 |
| 2023 | 39 |
| 2022 | 40 |
| 2021 | 36 |
| 2020 | 34 |
| 2019 | 42 |
| 2018 | 31 |
| 2017 | 43 |
| 2016 | 39 |
| 2015 | 43 |
| 2014 | 42 |
| 2013 | 63 |
| 2012 | 65 |
| 2011 | 65 |
| 2010 | 51 |
| 2009 | 72 |
| 2008 | 79 |
| 2007 | 58 |
| 2006 | 52 |
| 2005 | 59 |
| 2004 | 66 |
| 2003 | 43 |
| 2002 | 56 |
| 2001 | 56 |
| 2000 | 39 |
| 1999 | 33 |
| 1998 | 35 |
| 1997 | 38 |
| 1996 | 32 |
| 1995 | 48 |
| 1994 | 43 |
| 1993 | 34 |
| 1992 | 31 |
| 1991 | 39 |
| 1990 | 51 |
| 1989 | 32 |
| 1988 | 36 |
| 1987 | 28 |
| 1986 | 22 |
| 1985 | 22 |
| 1984 | 25 |
| 1983 | 27 |
| 1982 | 20 |
| 1981 | 12 |
| 1980 | 24 |
| 1979 | 20 |
| 1978 | 13 |
| 1977 | 25 |
| 1976 | 27 |
| 1975 | 22 |
| 1974 | 16 |
| 1973 | 27 |
| 1972 | 21 |
| 1971 | 33 |
| 1970 | 35 |
| 1969 | 45 |
| 1968 | 40 |
| 1967 | 46 |
| 1966 | 31 |
| 1965 | 34 |
| 1964 | 47 |
| 1963 | 39 |
| 1962 | 39 |
| 1961 | 44 |
| 1960 | 46 |
| 1959 | 46 |
| 1958 | 36 |
| 1957 | 35 |
| 1956 | 31 |
| 1955 | 37 |
| 1954 | 33 |
| 1953 | 23 |
| 1952 | 26 |
| 1951 | 21 |
| 1950 | 32 |
| 1949 | 34 |
| 1948 | 40 |
| 1947 | 33 |
| 1946 | 36 |
| 1945 | 22 |
| 1944 | 23 |
| 1943 | 37 |
| 1942 | 30 |
| 1941 | 21 |
| 1940 | 14 |
| 1939 | 15 |
| 1938 | 13 |
| 1937 | 19 |
| 1936 | 14 |
| 1935 | 13 |
| 1934 | 13 |
| 1933 | 12 |
| 1932 | 18 |
| 1931 | 11 |
| 1930 | 16 |
| 1929 | 7 |
| 1928 | 8 |
| 1927 | 11 |
| 1926 | 7 |
| 1924 | 8 |
| 1923 | 11 |
| 1922 | 9 |
| 1921 | 7 |
| 1920 | 7 |
| 1919 | 9 |
| 1912 | 5 |