Tonnie is of Dutch origin, meaning 'little John'. It's a diminutive form of Johannes, which means 'God is gracious'. The name gained popularity in the Netherlands and among the Dutch community worldwide during the 20th century. It is often used as a familiar or affectionate form of the name Johannes. Despite its Dutch roots, Tonnie has also been adopted by other cultures and can be found in various spellings such as Tonie, Toni, or even Tony.
The name Tonnie experienced significant fluctuations in popularity throughout the 20th century. It peaked around the late 1950s to early 1960s, with a high of 24 births in 1960 and consistently high numbers for several years thereafter. However, by the late 1970s and into the 1980s, popularity waned considerably, with fewer than 10 births per year recorded. The name has seen some resurgence since then, but it remains far less popular than in its heyday.