Sunday Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
The name Sunday originates from the Old English 'Sunnandæg', meaning 'day of the sun', reflecting its roots in both Old English and Latin. It has evolved through different forms and represents a day of rest and worship in many cultures. The name is not directly biblical but holds significance in Christian traditions. In modern times, it is associated with relaxation and family activities.
The name Sunday is most popular in California, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Girl name among the Generation Alpha generation in the West region. Recent 3-year trends show this Boy name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. Recent 3-year trends show this Girl name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. From 2020-2022, Sunday has been stalled for female in MidWest, stalled for female in Northeast, stalled for female in South, too falling for female in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been stalled for female in MidWest, stalled for female in Northeast, stalled for female in South, stalled for female in West. Across generations, 'Sunday' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 5583rd out of 7545 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 8999th out of 10718 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 12589th out of 16616 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 24088th out of 24088 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 12120th out of 23106 names. Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 8598th out of 9107 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 4676th out of 9204 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 2102nd out of 12526 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 1836th out of 19264 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 5671st out of 27321 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 6592nd out of 35406 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 2212th out of 30306 names. Discover how the name 'Sunday' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Sunday"
Pronunciation
/ˈsʌndeɪ/
Origin
Old English
Etymology
The name Sunday is derived from the Old English word 'Sunnandæg', which means 'Sun's Day'. This term is a translation of the Latin 'dies Solis', which refers to the day of the Sun in Roman culture.
Meaning
day of the sun
Language Evolution
Sunnandæg (Old English), Sondag (Middle English), Sunday (Modern English)
Historical Usage
The name Sunday gained popularity as it was associated with the Christian observance of the Sabbath and the day of rest, being recognized as the Lord's Day in many Christian traditions.
Variants & Derivatives
Sunnandaeg (Old English), Sonnatag (German), Dimanche (French)
Modern Popularity & Image
Today, Sunday is often viewed as a day of relaxation, family gatherings, and religious observance, making it a significant social day in many cultures.
Famous People
Sunday Adelaja, a Nigerian pastor and author, Sunday Odukoya, a Nigerian politician
Explore More Sunday Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Sunday"
Note: Years with identical rankings may represent different numbers of births. Data is sourced from Social Security card applications for births in the United States.
Yearly Ranking History of "Sunday"
"Sunday" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Boy | 5583rd of 7545 | 21 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Boy | 8999th of 10718 | 11 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Boy | 12589th of 16616 | 16 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Boy | 24088th of 24088 | 5 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Boy | 12120th of 23106 | 49 |
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Girl | 8598th of 9107 | 6 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Girl | 4676th of 9204 | 65 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Girl | 2102nd of 12526 | 521 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Girl | 1836th of 19264 | 798 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Girl | 5671st of 27321 | 231 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Girl | 6592nd of 35406 | 287 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Girl | 2212th of 30306 | 1,012 |
Regional Popularity of "Sunday" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - | - | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- | - | - | - |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
Regional Popularity of "Sunday" by Generation for Female Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - | - | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
80.96% 1803rd/2227 |
77.16% 1875th/2430 |
100.00% 2853rd/2853 |
65.91% 1829th/2775 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
58.87% 1729th/2937 |
67.70% 2358th/3483 |
62.31% 2192nd/3518 |
42.04% 1700th/4044 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - |
100.00% 7313th/7313 |
63.37% 4729th/7463 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
70.93% 2826th/3984 |
69.91% 3137th/4487 |
30.52% 2082nd/6822 |
29.40% 1845th/6276 |
State-by-State Popularity of "Sunday"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Sunday" across states, calculated by dividing the number of births with this name in each state by the total births in that state. This methodology provides a standardized measure of popularity regardless of state population size.