Sophia Girl
soh-FEE-uh
“wisdom” · Greek
#5
Bunny
GirlEnglish· “nickname from the word bunny”
- Meaning
- nickname from the word bunny
- Origin
- English
- Pronunciation
- BUH-nee
- Syllables
- 2
- US rank 2025
- #9,572
- US babies 2025
- 10
- Best rank
- #1,060 (1946)
- Peak year
- 1957
Meaning and origin of Bunny
Bunny is an English name that is usually said to mean “nickname from the word bunny”.
Bunny is an English nickname taken from the pet word for a rabbit, itself a diminutive of the old dialect word bun. It was used as an affectionate name for girls in the early twentieth century and often stood in for longer names such as Bernice, Barbara or Bernadette. Some women carried it as their everyday name for their whole lives, and in a few cases it was entered on birth certificates. It is said BUH-nee. Today Bunny feels playful and retro, the kind of name found in old films and society pages. Many families use it as a nickname and choose a fuller name for the birth certificate.
Other spellings with the same sound: Bunnie.
Popularity over time
Bunny first appears in US Social Security records in 1917. It has never ranked in the national top 1,000, which keeps it genuinely uncommon. Its best national rank was #1,060 in 1946, and the most babies received it in 1957, when 66 were named Bunny. In 2025, 10 babies were named Bunny, and it ranked #9,572 nationally.
Its national rank moved from #2,922 in 1920, #1,201 in 1950, #5,964 in 1980, and #9,572 in 2025. Of the 1,829 US girls named Bunny since records began, 29% were born in the 1950s, its biggest decade. The 1940s come next, with 431 babies. Since 2010, 21 more have been named Bunny.
Other girls' names that peaked around the same time include Raye, Donetta, Teresia, Sheryle, and Cherlyn.
Gender, sound and spelling
In the US it is used almost only for girls.
Bunny is usually pronounced BUH-nee, with two syllables. It has five letters, starts with B and ends in “-ny”. Names that sound the same but are spelled differently include Bunnie.
Middle names for Bunny
A few middle names that flow with Bunny: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Bunny
Similar names
Jenny Girl
JEH-nee
“pet form of Jane or Jennifer” · English
#1,503
Penny Girl
PEH-nee
“short form of Penelope; also the coin” · English
#740
Sunny Unisex
SUN-ee
“cheerful; full of sunshine” · English
#390
Frankie Unisex
FRANG-kee
“Frenchman; short for Frank” · English
#552
Joey Unisex
JOH-ee
“he will add; short for Joseph” · English
#877
Wendy Girl
WEHN-dee
“popularized by Peter Pan” · English
#1,347
Betty Girl
BEH-tee
“short for Elizabeth; my God is an oath” · English
#1,113
Janie Girl
JAY-nee
“pet form of Jane; God is gracious” · English
#1,329
Betsy Girl
BET-see
“my God is an oath (via Elizabeth)” · English
#2,724
Edie Girl
EE-dee
“prosperous in war” · English
#2,069
Polly Girl
PAH-lee
“pet form of Mary via Molly” · English
#2,318
Kiki Girl
KEE-kee
“pet form of various names” · English
#8,116
Lists that include Bunny
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Bunny mean?
Bunny is an English name that is usually said to mean “nickname from the word bunny”.
What is the origin of the name Bunny?
Bunny has English roots. Bunny is an English nickname taken from the pet word for a rabbit, itself a diminutive of the old dialect word bun.
Is Bunny a popular name?
Not especially. Bunny ranked #9,572 in the US in 2025, which puts it outside the top 1,000.
Is Bunny a boy or girl name?
Bunny is mainly a girl's name. In the US it is used almost only for girls.
How do you pronounce Bunny?
Bunny is usually pronounced BUH-nee. Stressed syllables are in capital letters.
Popularity figures come from US Social Security card applications (names given to at least five babies in a year, 1880 to 2025). How we source names and meanings