Sunny

A name that refuses gloom, Sunny began as a nickname for cheerful children and grew into a given name in its own right during the twentieth century, sometimes short for Sonia or Sunniva, sometimes just itself. The name carries a particular mid-century American warmth, the register of diner waitresses and beach towels, now updated by a new generation drawn to optimistic word names. It crosses gender lines freely and holds a steady mid-range U.S. rank. Two bright syllables, the double N giving it a small bounce. Sunny reads open-faced and guileless, a name that arrives smiling and makes everyone in the room slightly happier.