Sunshine Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
Sunshine originates from Old English, meaning light, warmth, and happiness. The name evolved from 'sunne' in Old English to its current form in Modern English. It is associated with positive traits and has no biblical relevance. The name became popular in the 20th century and is often viewed as cheerful and uplifting.
The name Sunshine is most popular in California, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Girl name among the Generation X (Gen X) 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, Sunshine has been stalled for female in MidWest, stalled for female in Northeast, stalled for female in South, 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, 'Sunshine' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 6632nd out of 10718 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 16616th out of 16616 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 21055th out of 23106 names. Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 2667th out of 9107 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 5907th out of 9204 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 7459th out of 12526 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 944th out of 19264 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 1778th out of 27321 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 2269th out of 35406 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 2714th out of 30306 names. Discover how the name 'Sunshine' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Sunshine"
Pronunciation
/ˈsʌnʃaɪn/
Origin
Old English
Etymology
The name Sunshine is derived from the Old English words 'sunne' meaning 'sun' and 'scīne' meaning 'shine'. It refers to the light and warmth provided by the sun.
Meaning
light, warmth, happiness
Language Evolution
Old English: sunne, Middle English: sunne, Modern English: sunshine
Historical Usage
The name Sunshine gained popularity in the 20th century, often used as a given name inspired by the positive connotations of sunlight.
Variants & Derivatives
Sunny, Shine
Modern Popularity & Image
Sunshine is perceived as a cheerful and uplifting name, associated with positivity and brightness.
Famous People
Sunshine O'Donnell, American actress, Sunshine Coates, American singer-songwriter
📊 Sunshine Name Trend Analysis
Boy Name Trend
Recent 3-Year Analysis
Girl Name Trend
Recent 3-Year Analysis
Explore More Sunshine Name Visualizations
✨ Sunshine Name Meaning & Significance
Popularity Trend
Less Common name with 324 peak births in 1975
Geographic Spread
Popular across 34 US states, with strongest presence in California
Historical Span
Data spanning 145 years from 1880 to 2024, showing long-term trends
Generational Impact
Influenced 10 different American generations with varying popularity
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Sunshine"
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 "Sunshine"
"Sunshine" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Boy | 6632nd of 10718 | 32 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Boy | 16616th of 16616 | 5 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Boy | 21055th of 23106 | 8 |
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Girl | 2667th of 9107 | 199 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Girl | 5907th of 9204 | 33 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Girl | 7459th of 12526 | 42 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Girl | 944th of 19264 | 2,169 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Girl | 1778th of 27321 | 1,194 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Girl | 2269th of 35406 | 1,268 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Girl | 2714th of 30306 | 769 |
Regional Popularity of "Sunshine" 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 "Sunshine" by Generation for Female Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - |
82.46% 1951st/2366 |
- |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - | - | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
27.65% 812th/2937 |
40.88% 1424th/3483 |
28.62% 1007th/3518 |
17.28% 699th/4044 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
51.10% 1883rd/3685 |
74.32% 3326th/4475 |
39.37% 2045th/5194 |
25.11% 1586th/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
54.21% 2484th/4582 |
68.63% 3544th/5164 |
39.59% 2895th/7313 |
23.37% 1744th/7463 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
72.09% 2872nd/3984 |
100.00% 4487th/4487 |
49.79% 3397th/6822 |
33.99% 2133rd/6276 |
State-by-State Popularity of "Sunshine"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Sunshine" 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.