The name Joni is of Finnish origin and means "shining." It is derived from the Finnish word "jon" which means "wave," suggesting a connection to water or the sea. The name has been popular among Finnish speakers for generations, but it has also gained international recognition thanks in part to Canadian singer-songwriter Joni Mitchell, born Roberta Joan Anderson, who adopted the name Joni early on in her career. Despite its origins, Joni is not exclusively used as a girl's name; it can be given to children of either sex and has been used for both boys and girls throughout history.
The name Joni has seen a significant rise and fall in popularity over the years in the United States. In the early 1930s, there were only a handful of babies named Joni each year, with just 7 births in 1930 and 5 births in 1932.
However, the name began to gain traction in the late 1940s and early 1950s. In 1951, there were 74 babies named Joni, and by 1953, that number had jumped to 757. The name reached its peak popularity in 1956, with 1576 babies named Joni.
The 1960s saw a steady decline in the use of the name Joni. By 1964, there were only 717 babies named Joni, and that number continued to fall throughout the decade.
In the 1970s, the name began to fluctuate in popularity. There was a brief spike in 1975 with 380 births, but by the end of the decade, the number had fallen again to 266 births in 1974 and 177 births in 1989.
The 1990s saw another decline in the use of the name Joni. By 1996, there were only 65 babies named Joni, and that number continued to fall throughout the decade.
However, since the year 2000, the name has seen a resurgence in popularity. In 2016, there were 62 babies named Joni, and that number increased to 85 births in 2022. Overall, from 1930 to 2023, there have been a total of 28,595 babies named Joni born in the United States.
Despite its ups and downs in popularity over the years, the name Joni remains a classic choice for parents looking for a unique and timeless name for their child.