Etymology & Historical Origin of the Baby Name Bonnie

Bonnie is a Scottish female personal name that means “pretty”, derived from the French “bonne” meaning “good”. It’s somewhat similar to the Spanish “Bonita” also meaning “pretty”. The moniker Bonnie was famously given to Bonnie Prince Charles in 18th century Scotland (apparently for his handsome looks). Bonnie Prince Charles (also known as the Young Pretender) attempted to claim rights to the English and Scottish thrones as the grandson of King James II (who was the last of the Catholic English/Scottish monarchies and ultimately deposed by the Protestant opposition). Already in circulation by the 19th century, what really catapulted the popularity of Bonnie as a female given name was the 1939 movie, “Gone with the Wind”. The darling daughter of Scarlett O’Hara and Rhett Butler was actually given the birth name Eugenie Victoria Butler, but her father called her "Bonnie Blue". The affectionate nickname was inspired by the “Bonnie Blue Flag” which was a symbol of the Confederacy and made popular by a marching song, “The Bonnie Blue Flag” (We are a Band of Brothers) written in 1861. Prior to “Gone with the Wind” Bonnie was already gaining momentum so we have to wonder if the name found a following thanks to the notorious outlaw Bonnie Parker who was ultimately gunned down by authorities in 1923 (the Bonnie & Clyde legend had been greatly romanticized by journalists of the time). Bonnie is still used with some regularity in England; elsewhere in the English-speaking world it has fallen from fashion.

All About the Baby Name – Bonnie

Personality

OF THE GIRL NAME BONNIE

The number Five personality loves the excitement of life and can easily adapt to all situations. As natural adventurers, these personalities thrive on the new and unexpected and prefer to be in constant motion. It makes them feel alive. They'll stir up some action if there's not enough around, and as inherent risk-takers they enjoy pushing the envelope. Naturally rebellious, the Five personality has no fear and never resists change.  Traveling and new experiences feed their souls. Fives are very social and attract friends with ease. People love to be around the Five fun-loving and exciting energy.  This is also a lucky number in numerology (like the Threes), so fortune seems to shine on them, helped along by their own optimism and good-nature. Fives have a quick wit, a cerebral mind, and are generally very persuasive. 

Popularity

OF THE GIRL NAME BONNIE

Bonnie was a moderately popular girl’s name in the late 19th century and into the turn of the 20th century. It hit the Top 100 list in 1928, but was most popular throughout the 1940s when she was ranked as the 34th most commonly used baby girl’s name nationwide. Bonnie would fall off America’s Top 100 list in 1967 after an impressive 40 year run. By the 1990s, the name was clearly on her way out of style. She finally dropped off the radar in 2004 when she lost Top 1000 standing. Still given to more than 200 baby girls per year, Bonnie is not completely forgotten but we would certainly count her among the “mid-century” favorites (like Linda, Susan, Patricia and Donna). It’s got cute charm and a very “pretty” etymology.

Quick Facts

ON BONNIE

GENDER:

Girl

ORIGIN:

Scottish

NUMBER OF SYLLABLES:

2

RANKING POPULARITY:

N/A

PRONUNCIATION:

BOHN-ee

SIMPLE MEANING:

Pretty

Characteristics

OF BONNIE

Freedom-loving

Adventurous

Adaptable

Intellectual

Easygoing

Progressive

Sensual

Cultural References to the Baby Name – Bonnie

Literary Characters

OF THE BABY NAME BONNIE

Bonnie Blue Bell (Eugenie Victoria) Butler is the third child of Scarlett O’Hara in Margaret Mitchell’s 1936 blockbuster, Gone With The Wind, although in the movie she (adorably played by the late Cammie King Conlon) takes on the status of only child of Scarlett and her third husband, Rhett Butler. With parents like that, Bonnie Blue Bell (so nick-named by Melanie for her eyes the color of the Bonnie Blue Flag of the Confederate), is bound to be a beauty – and she is. She is pampered and adored, cute and winsome, headstrong and daring and is the very special pet of her father. With the silly Scarlett still mooning after Ashley Wilkes, Rhett turns all his attention and love to his child. Every opportunity is provided for her, every wish is her command and were he able, Rhett would harness the sun and moon for her. It is in part due to this over-indulgence that the ill-fated little girl goes to her death – she pushes and demands to be allowed to jump her pony higher and higher – with tragic results. Pretty little Bonnie Blue Bell was only four years old.

Childrens Books

ON THE BABY NAME BONNIE

We cannot find any childrens books with the first name Bonnie


Popular Songs

ON BONNIE

Train Rap with Bonnie Bramlett
a song by Janis Joplin

The Legend of Bonnie and Clyde
a song by Merle Haggard

Picture of Bonnie
a song by Flatt and Scruggs

My Bonnie
a song by The Beatles

Modern Day Bonnie and Clyde
a song by Travis Tritt

Legend of Bonnie and Clyde
a song by Tammy Wynette

I've Got Bonnie
a song by Bobby Rydell

Bonnie Mary
a song by Real Mckenzies

Bonnie
a song by Supertramp

Billy and Bonnie
a song by Steve Earle

Bonnie and Clyde
a song by Tori Amos

The Bonnie Blue Flag
a Confederate marching song during the Civil War

The Legend of Bonnie & Clyde
a song by Merle Haggard

The Ballad of Bonnie and Clyde
a song by Georgie Fame

Bonnie & Clyde Part II
a song by Foxy Brown [explicit]

Bonnie & Clyde II
a song by Martina Sorbara

Theme from Bonnie & Clyde
a song by Flatt and Scruggs

Bonnie & Clyde
a song by Tori Amos

Famous People

NAMED BONNIE

Bonnie Parker (outlaw)
Bonnie Raitt (blues/country singer)
Bonnie Tyler (singer)
Bonnie Hunt (actress)
Bonnie Bramlett (singer)
Bonnie Langford (English actress)

Children of Famous People

NAMED BONNIE

We cannot find any children of famous people with the first name Bonnie

Historic Figures

WITH THE NAME BONNIE

Bonnie Parker was the celebrated girlfriend of Clyde Barrow, and with him and his gang, participated in a rampage of robbery and murder between 1931 and 1934. Born in Texas, Bonnie, her two siblings and her widowed mother lived with her maternal grandparents. They were reasonably well-off and Bonnie was a good student in school. Before her 16th birthday, however, she dropped out of school and married her boyfriend. The union was short-lived (though never officially dissolved) and Bonnie was working as a waitress when she met Clyde Barrow. She was immediately smitten with him and joined him and his gang without looking back. Without looking much forward, either. Bonnie was 24 years old when she and Clyde died together in a shootout by a police posse, and moved on into legend, helped in no small way by the 1967 portrayal of her by Faye Dunaway in the movie, Bonnie and Clyde.

Bonnie Parker was the celebrated girlfriend of Clyde Barrow, and with him and his gang, participated in a rampage of robbery and murder between 1931 and 1934. Born in Texas, Bonnie, her two siblings and her widowed mother lived with her maternal grandparents. They were reasonably well-off and Bonnie was a good student in school. Before her 16th birthday, however, she dropped out of school and married her boyfriend. The union was short-lived (though never officially dissolved) and Bonnie was working as a waitress when she met Clyde Barrow. She was immediately smitten with him and joined him and his gang without looking back. Without looking much forward, either. Bonnie was 24 years old when she and Clyde died together in a shootout by a police posse, and moved on into legend, helped in no small way by the 1967 portrayal of her by Faye Dunaway in the movie, Bonnie and Clyde.

Bonnie Parker was the celebrated girlfriend of Clyde Barrow, and with him and his gang, participated in a rampage of robbery and murder between 1931 and 1934. Born in Texas, Bonnie, her two siblings and her widowed mother lived with her maternal grandparents. They were reasonably well-off and Bonnie was a good student in school. Before her 16th birthday, however, she dropped out of school and married her boyfriend. The union was short-lived (though never officially dissolved) and Bonnie was working as a waitress when she met Clyde Barrow. She was immediately smitten with him and joined him and his gang without looking back. Without looking much forward, either. Bonnie was 24 years old when she and Clyde died together in a shootout by a police posse, and moved on into legend, helped in no small way by the 1967 portrayal of her by Faye Dunaway in the movie, Bonnie and Clyde.

Bonnie Parker was the celebrated girlfriend of Clyde Barrow, and with him and his gang, participated in a rampage of robbery and murder between 1931 and 1934. Born in Texas, Bonnie, her two siblings and her widowed mother lived with her maternal grandparents. They were reasonably well-off and Bonnie was a good student in school. Before her 16th birthday, however, she dropped out of school and married her boyfriend. The union was short-lived (though never officially dissolved) and Bonnie was working as a waitress when she met Clyde Barrow. She was immediately smitten with him and joined him and his gang without looking back. Without looking much forward, either. Bonnie was 24 years old when she and Clyde died together in a shootout by a police posse, and moved on into legend, helped in no small way by the 1967 portrayal of her by Faye Dunaway in the movie, Bonnie and Clyde.