Tonya: Name Popularity, History & Rankings (1880

Rank 2025

#9,412

among girls · ↓2,792 vs 2024

Babies in 2025

named Tonya

How common

1 in 146,115

girls born in 2025

Peak year

1972

7,273 babies

All-time total

120,856

#326 all-time among girls

First recorded

1923

in Social Security records

Tonya popularity over time

120,856 babies have been named Tonya since 1923, according to official Social Security records. Switch measure to see births per year or the yearly rank.

Measure

Births per 1,000 babies of that sex, comparable across eras

GirlsBoys

By decade. Change compares yearly averages, so the current partial decade is on equal footing. Best rank is the name's best yearly rank within the decade.

Decade	Girls	Boys	Total	Per year	Change	Best rank
1880s	–	–	–	–	–	–
1890s	–	–	–	–	–	–
1900s	–	–	–	–	–	–
1910s	–	–	–	–	–	–
1920s	7	–	7	1	–	#4,341
1930s	123	–	123	12	+1657%	#1,589
1940s	944	–	944	94	+667%	#684
1950s	4,694	–	4,694	469	+397%	#268
1960s	34,072	120	34,192	3,419	+628%	#54
1970s	57,789	258	58,047	5,805	+70%	#36
1980s	17,987	57	18,044	1,804	-69%	#97
1990s	3,664	–	3,664	366	-80%	#365
2000s	775	–	775	78	-79%	#1,362
2010s	279	–	279	28	-64%	#3,357
2020s (to 2025)	87	–	87	15	-48%	#6,154

The story of Tonya

Tonya is rare for girls in the United States, ranked #9,412 in 2025 with 11 babies given the name. It is currently declining compared with a decade ago.

Since 1923, 120,856 American babies have been named Tonya. Its peak came in 1972, when 7,273 newborns received the name, the signature sound of the 1970s.

The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Tonya stood among all girls' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.

How old are people named Tonya?

The median living Tonya is about 52 years old; half are between 47 and 57. An estimated 113 thousand people named Tonya are alive in the United States today.

Estimated from births per year and Social Security period life tables; an approximation of the living age distribution, by age in years.

Tonya year by year

Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.

Year	Girls	Girls rank	Boys	Boys rank
2025	11	#9,412	–	–
2024	18	#6,620	–	–
2023	8	#12,098	–	–
2022	14	#7,998	–	–
2021	20	#6,154	–	–
2020	16	#7,196	–	–
2019	12	#9,070	–	–
2018	23	#5,603	–	–
2017	23	#5,650	–	–
2016	18	#6,884	–	–
2015	29	#4,845	–	–
2014	25	#5,442	–	–
2013	26	#5,306	–	–
2012	34	#4,378	–	–
2011	40	#3,834	–	–
2010	49	#3,357	–	–
2009	44	#3,672	–	–
2008	58	#3,014	–	–
2007	55	#3,163	–	–
2006	45	#3,560	–	–
2005	77	#2,341	–	–
2004	67	#2,525	–	–
2003	100	#1,857	–	–
2002	88	#2,003	–	–
2001	103	#1,747	–	–
2000	138	#1,362	–	–
1995	273	#749	–	–
1990	725	#365	–	–
1985	1,642	#172	6	#6,467
1980	3,080	#97	6	#6,180
1975	5,896	#45	30	#1,699
1970	7,140	#49	30	#1,579
1965	2,968	#129	14	#2,262
1960	1,327	#242	–	–
1955	402	#449	–	–
1950	153	#697	–	–
1945	101	#748	–	–
1940	35	#1,268	–	–
1935	10	#2,908	–	–
1930	5	#5,190	–	–
1925	–	–	–	–
1920	–	–	–	–
1915	–	–	–	–
1910	–	–	–	–
1905	–	–	–	–
1900	–	–	–	–
1895	–	–	–	–
1890	–	–	–	–
1885	–	–	–	–
1880	–	–	–	–

Famous people named Tonya

The most globally famous bearers of the name, ranked by fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).

1 Tonya Harding American figure skater (born 1970) Contemporary
2 Tonya Verbeek Canadian freestyle wrestler, University of Iowa Women's Wrestling Assistant Coach b. 1977 · Contemporary

Portraits from Wikipedia (Wikimedia Commons).

Frequently asked questions

Quick answers about Tonya, drawn from the same Social Security data as the charts above.

How old is the average Tonya?

The median living Tonya is about 52 years old. Half of all living Tonyas are between 47 and 57 years old.

How many people named Tonya are alive today?

An estimated 113 thousand people named Tonya are alive in the United States, based on 120,856 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

What does the name Tonya mean?

Phonetic rendering of Russian То́ня (Tónja), an informal pet form of Антони́на (Antonína, “Antonina”).

How popular is the name Tonya in 2025?

Tonya ranked #9,412 among girls' names in the United States in 2025, with 11 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.

How many people are named Tonya?

120,856 babies have been named Tonya in the United States since 1923, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Tonya most popular?

Tonya peaked in 1972, when 7,273 newborns received the name.

Is Tonya a boy or girl name?

Tonya is overwhelmingly a girl's name: 100% of babies with the name.

Is the name Tonya rising or falling?

Tonya is declining, less popular now than a decade ago.

Who are famous people named Tonya?

Well-known people named Tonya include Tonya Harding (skater), Tonya Verbeek (wrestler).

Names like Tonya

Names that sound and feel close to Tonya: shared sounds, similar era, similar popularity. Each links to its full history.

Compare Tonya with similar names → More names starting with T →