Sonny began as an affectionate English nickname meaning "son" or "little boy" and became a given name in the 20th century, worn by singer and politician Sonny Bono and jazz saxophonist Sonny Rollins. It has the cheerful, retro feel that parents now love in names like Archie and Otis. Sonny was number 868 in 2000, climbed from 825 in 2015 to 298 in 2025 and has never ranked higher in the United States.