Meaning & origin
A reliable meaning for Sunshine isn’t established in our sources yet. Rather than guess, we show what is recorded: how the name is used, how often, and the names it’s connected to.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1905. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Sunshine through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 5,779
- 45 boys · 5,734 girls
- Most popular year
- 1975
- 324 babies
- 2025
- 57
- #2,952 for girls
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- +9%
- Steady
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 57 U.S. birth records for girls, ranking No. 2,952 among girls’ names. Average annual use for girls was 6.2% higher in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for girls was 324 in 1975. In 2025, Texas had the largest reported state-level birth count for girls with this name (7). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 5,157 as a first name in 2020; 1,028 as a surname in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Sunshine’s family of names
Sunshine may belong to the same name family as SUNNSHINE. This is a tentative spelling connection.
Inner ring: spellings · outer: nicknames and forms.
Nicknames & forms 2
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Spellings & scripts 1
The same name written differently, including transliterations into other scripts.
People named Sunshine
- Sunshine AndersonAmerican singerborn 1974
- Sunshine ParkerAmerican actor (1927-1999)
- Sunshine DizonFilipina actressborn 1983
- Sunshine CruzFilipino actressborn 1977
- Sunshine LogroñoAmerican actorborn 1951
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Appears in
Similar names
If you love Sunshine, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Susannah
“resembling a graceful white lily”
>99% girls
Suzanna
“resembling a graceful white lily”
>99% girls
Kristine
“follower of Christ”
>99% girls
Salina
“one of a solemn, dignified character”
>99% girls
Suzette
“resembling a graceful white lily”
>99% girls
Sommer
“born during the summer” · “refers to the season; born in summer”
>99% girls
Sakinah
“a beloved friend” · “having God-inspired peace of mind”
>99% girls
Carrie
“a joyous song; a small, strong woman” · “from the river”
>99% girls