Sunday Unisex
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: SUN-day //ˈsʌndeɪ//
Origin: English; Latin
Meaning: English: day of the week; Latin: 'dies Solis' (day of the sun)
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Sunday derives from the Old English word "Sunnandæg," which translates to "day of the sun." This term is a direct translation of the Latin "dies Solis," reflecting the influence of Roman culture on early English language and naming conventions. The name is rooted in the Proto-Germanic *sunnōn, which is related to similar terms in other Germanic languages, such as Old High German "sunntag" and Old Norse "sunnudagr." The adoption of the name into English occurred as the language evolved from its Germanic roots, particularly during the early medieval period when Christianity began to spread across England, bringing with it various cultural and linguistic influences.
Historically, Sunday has been associated with the Christian Sabbath, a day of rest and worship, which was established in the early centuries of the Christian church. The significance of Sunday was further solidified by its mention in the Bible, particularly in the context of the resurrection of Jesus, which is believed to have occurred on a Sunday.
This connection to religious observance has contributed to the name's enduring presence in various cultures. The name has also been borne by notable figures throughout history, including saints and religious leaders, which has further embedded it into the cultural fabric of societies that observe Christian traditions.
Culturally, Sunday symbolizes rest, renewal, and spiritual reflection, making it a name that resonates with themes of peace and tranquility. In some traditions, it is associated with light and warmth, reflecting the sun's role as a source of life and energy.
The name has also inspired various diminutive forms and related names in different cultures, although its primary form remains significant in its own right. Overall, the name Sunday carries a rich historical and cultural significance, rooted in ancient linguistic traditions and religious practices.
Famous people named Sunday
In this section, you will find notable people named Sunday. 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 Sunday who have made a significant impact on popular culture.
We also feature individuals named Sunday 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.
Sunday Adelaja is a pastor and author best known for The Mountain of Ignorance, The Good News, and The Church in the World.
Sunday Oliseh is a former footballer and coach best known for playing with Ajax, Borussia Dortmund, and the Nigerian national team.
Fictional characters named Sunday
The following list of fictional characters named Sunday 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.
Sunday is a fictional character from the comic book series The Sandman. They are a member of the Endless, embodying the concept of dreams and storytelling.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Sunday, 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 Sunday. 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 Sunday was first seen in the United States in 1924.
Sunday has ranked as high as #1128 nationally, which occurred in 2024, and has been most popular in California, Texas, Florida, New York, and Georgia.
In the past 5 years the name Sunday has been trending up compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Sunday 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 Sunday was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.
Top States for Sunday (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 |
|---|---|---|
| CA | 30 | |
| TX | 29 | |
| FL | 20 | |
| CO | 13 | |
| NC | 10 | |
| KY | 10 | |
| GA | 9 | |
| TN | 7 | |
| SC | 6 | |
| UT | 6 | |
| MO | 5 | |
| AZ | 5 | |
| MN | 5 |
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 Sunday.
| Year | Births |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 232 |
| 2023 | 178 |
| 2022 | 123 |
| 2021 | 107 |
| 2020 | 83 |
| 2019 | 59 |
| 2018 | 47 |
| 2017 | 40 |
| 2016 | 35 |
| 2015 | 26 |
| 2014 | 43 |
| 2013 | 39 |
| 2012 | 39 |
| 2011 | 43 |
| 2010 | 40 |
| 2009 | 29 |
| 2008 | 22 |
| 2007 | 8 |
| 2006 | 15 |
| 2005 | 11 |
| 2004 | 6 |
| 2003 | 8 |
| 2002 | 12 |
| 2001 | 15 |
| 2000 | 5 |
| 1999 | 9 |
| 1998 | 14 |
| 1997 | 11 |
| 1996 | 15 |
| 1995 | 17 |
| 1994 | 8 |
| 1993 | 11 |
| 1992 | 17 |
| 1991 | 20 |
| 1990 | 17 |
| 1989 | 10 |
| 1988 | 11 |
| 1987 | 10 |
| 1986 | 8 |
| 1985 | 14 |
| 1984 | 14 |
| 1983 | 12 |
| 1982 | 28 |
| 1981 | 19 |
| 1980 | 21 |
| 1979 | 32 |
| 1978 | 45 |
| 1977 | 35 |
| 1976 | 52 |
| 1975 | 44 |
| 1974 | 57 |
| 1973 | 45 |
| 1972 | 44 |
| 1971 | 59 |
| 1970 | 42 |
| 1969 | 52 |
| 1968 | 52 |
| 1967 | 64 |
| 1966 | 109 |
| 1965 | 45 |
| 1964 | 38 |
| 1963 | 28 |
| 1962 | 31 |
| 1961 | 44 |
| 1960 | 48 |
| 1959 | 27 |
| 1958 | 22 |
| 1957 | 24 |
| 1956 | 25 |
| 1955 | 28 |
| 1954 | 31 |
| 1953 | 26 |
| 1952 | 22 |
| 1951 | 20 |
| 1950 | 19 |
| 1949 | 22 |
| 1948 | 23 |
| 1947 | 29 |
| 1946 | 14 |
| 1945 | 7 |
| 1944 | 12 |
| 1943 | 10 |
| 1942 | 8 |
| 1941 | 6 |
| 1940 | 9 |
| 1939 | 7 |
| 1938 | 6 |
| 1924 | 6 |