Given name
Sunni
“of the sun; one who is brilliant and cheerful”
Sunni is a variant of Sunny. One American interpretation is “of the sun; one who is brilliant and cheerful.”
Meaning & origin
What it means
Sunni is a variant of Sunny. One American interpretation is “of the sun; one who is brilliant and cheerful.”
Explained through its name family
Where it comes from
Sunni is a variant of Sunny. An origin associated with Sunny is American.
Explained through its name family
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1949. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Sunni through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 2,635
- 69 boys · 2,566 girls
- Most popular year
- 2024
- 134 babies
- 2025
- 106
- #1,960 for girls · #10,541 for boys
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- +112%
- Rising fast
Boys, girls and both
The balance of boys and girls given this name has shifted over time. Recent births are 8% boys.
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 99 U.S. birth records for girls, ranking No. 1,960 among girls’ names. Average annual use for girls was 102.1% higher in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. It also appeared in 7 birth records for boys in 2025. In 2025, Texas had the largest reported state-level birth count for girls with this name (12). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 1,946 as a first name in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
The ring: nicknames and forms.
Nicknames & forms 1
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Similar names
If you love Sunni, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Sylvie
Sylvie is used as a given name and a surname. Sylvie is connected with Silvia.
>99% girls
Malani
>99% girls
Nalani
“a calmness of the skies; heaven's calm”
>99% girls
Melany
“a dark-skinned beauty”
>99% girls
Celine
“the little warrior”
>99% girls
Jaylani
2% boys · 98% girls
Selah
“to hang”
1% boys · 99% girls
Aylani
>99% girls