Tonia is a feminine given name of Latin origin that means "stretching" or "straining." It is derived from the Latin word "tendere," which translates to "to stretch" or "to strain." The name Tonia is believed to have been introduced into popular usage during the Middle Ages, although its exact origins are unclear. Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne this name, including the Italian poet and philosopher Torquato Tasso, who was born Antonio Tasso but is more commonly known by his pen name Torquato, which is derived from the Latin word "torquere," meaning "to twist" or "to turn." Despite its Latin roots, Tonia has been used as a given name in various cultures throughout Europe and beyond, and it continues to be a popular choice for parents today.
Based on the statistics provided, we can observe several trends regarding the name Tonia over the years in the United States.
The name Tonia first began to gain popularity in the late 1930s and early 1940s. From 1937 onwards, there were consistently more than 20 births per year with the name Tonia. The peak of popularity for this name occurred between the mid-1950s and mid-1960s, during which time there was a significant increase in its usage.
In 1966, the number of newborn girls named Tonia reached an all-time high of 679 births. This trend continued to rise over the next two years, reaching 1061 births in 1967 and 1148 births in 1968.
However, after its peak popularity, the usage of the name Tonia began to decline steadily from the late 1960s onwards. Between 1975 and 2000, there was a significant decrease in the number of newborn girls named Tonia, with fewer than 100 births per year on average.
Despite this decline, the name Tonia still remains relatively popular today. From 2000 to 2020, there have been an average of approximately 15 births per year with the name Tonia in the United States.
In total, over the course of these statistics (from 1917 to 2020), there were a combined total of 22,181 newborn girls named Tonia in the United States.