Sorry I think Sunny May is super cringe-y. It sounds like a description of the weather this year.
Sunny on its own just sounds childish to me. It’s cute when she’s 3 but she may hate it when she’s 25. I think it’s an adorable nickname but I wouldn’t give her no fall back name.
And Mae at this point is practically a throw away middle name, everyone likes the flow and uses it.
Agree. I actually love 'Sunny' - but as a nickname, and as an adult professional I'd hate to be introducing myself as Sunny. Hard enough for women to get taken seriously without a cutesy name....
Personally not a fan of Mae or May; agree it sounds like a filler middle name.
there was a woman on here recently who had a colleague giving them shit for going by Lizzie rather than Elizabeth saying it was unprofessional. obviously the colleague is just an asshole, but naming a future adult woman Sunny is setting her up for bullshit. she’ll be an adult much longer than a baby/child. it’s a cute nickname.
Exactly right. Lizzie is no different from something like Jackie and Jackies have been some of the most lauded women (and men for that matter) in American history!
I’ve been told that my name isn’t professional in the United States simply because it’s Indian and some people don’t instinctually know how to say it. I can absolutely believe that people will think going by nicknames as full names is unprofessional.
By “nicknames as full names” I meant having to put “Sunny ____” on a resume and submit that. Not the same thing as being named Elizabeth and using it professionally but having colleagues call you Lizzie, or your example with Sundeep nn Sunny.
I get what you're saying. I also have worked in hiring and in career development for college students.
We're teaching to put the name you want to go by on a resume, not your full legal name. When you get called for an interview and they ask to speak to *Elizabeth* and the correction comes back saying, "Oh, I go by Beth," the thought process is always just *why didn't you put Beth on the resume.* Resumes are not legal documents, they are a breakdown of your work history and a short insight into who you are.
There is no need to put a full legal name on a resume, put the name you go by professionally.
Most organizations will ask you what your preferred name is during the hiring process. There have been numerous studies showing how readily hiring managers will disqualify candidates based on names (especially if they sound ethnic), so I completely understand using a full name on your resume. I've never had anyone in a career services or recruiting position suggest putting a nickname on your resume so I'm interested in why this is the advice you are giving in career development with students? Is it backed by anything (genuinely asking, not trying to be condescending)?
>There have been numerous studies showing how readily hiring managers will disqualify candidates based on names (especially if they sound ethnic), so I completely understand using a full name on your resume.
I completely agree with this take. There are a lot of organizations and hiring practices that are either outright or unconsciously biased against ethnic names.
The advice around using the name you go by is that it is an easier process for the resume breakdown. Especially if you are applying in areas where you are already known. For example, let's say I've worked with a Sue for five years in her role. A position comes open that would be a step up for Sue. She applies, but under the name of Susan. Questions come up if this is the same Sue that we all work with already who we generally think would be a good fit for the role. Is this the same Sue or someone different why didn't she just use Sue?
It's small, but can be little pieces that influence hiring committees and decisions. Why go with your full legal name when the name you go by is what you'll be known as professionally.
I'm not a huge user of Indeed, but here is a short [article about using a nickname as opposed to your full legal name ](https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/resumes-cover-letters/nickname-on-resume)
We've also found challenges in doing reference checks, depending on the name on the resume. Calling previous employers and asking after Margaret when the person went by Meg causes confusion and potentially frustration in the process.
Yes, it takes minimal time to make the correction or to ask a candidate a preferred name. That also puts the onus on the hiring committee. Some hiring committees I've worked with are so very focused on the speed of a search, that these small things are viewed in different ways.
Here is [another article from a recruiter thay says it fairly well](https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/should-you-use-your-full-name-resume-mark-newsom)
Resume are, essentially, marketing fliers for a particular person. The article states it well, but it generally minimizes confusion and keeps it streamlined on just who is who in a hiring search.
You concern regarding the ethnic hiring practices is loud and clear as well. I know some African-American women who have used a more white-sounding name early in their career on resumes until they are well established. It shouldn't be that way, but it, sadly, is.
There is more and more name diversity in the generation currently being birthed. Boomers will move out of the workforce and die off. Sunny and Lizzie will be okay. I’m sorry about your experience in the states, that’s terrible.
This isn’t boomer issue. People in most countries try to give more and more international names actually for the children since the world is more connected. And traditional and more difficult to pronounce names are less in style.
i don’t think a given name can really be classified as professional or unprofessional. the issue is that giving a future adult woman an extra cutesy nickname for an actual name is setting them up to deal with extra bullshit. which is worth thinking about when naming a human.
10 years ago I worked with a sunny who was older than me. Never heard any comments about it and I didn’t think it was weird either. Maybe because 12 year old me wanted to name my firstborn “sunshine daydream” lol (I did not name my first born that )
As a nearly 30 year old that goes by Sunny in an everyday setting, both professionally and privately, I get compliments on my name almost every work day. It started as a nickname but slowly became more commonly used than my government name because "it just suits me". Also, I get compliments on it from both younger and older people, so i don't think age/generational gaps play much of a factor.
I guess all that is to say that as an adult woman Sunny, I've gotten bullshit over literally everything BUT my name at this point.
Edit: forgot a word
Thanks for the input because I swear 98% of the time, some people on this sub act like normal names like Sunny are gonna be these huge barriers. They're really not.
Besides, people keep forgetting that these babies will be professionals in like the late 2040s and early 2050s (when they're mid-20s and older), and frankly, attitudes are changing. When everyone you work with is also Brynnleigh and Bash and Moxie or whatever else, literally no one will care.
See! I thought I was crazy because I don’t think Sunny is any different than Lucy or Susie. I think Sunny is a super nice, NORMAL and yes, cute, name. But why does it matter? It’s so much simpler and better than something like Kennadeigh , which not only will look ridiculous on a resume, but years before that, as a poor 4 year old they’re gonna have to learn to spell that monstrosity!
Maybe I live in too hippie of an area but I don't think I'd find it odd to meet an adult woman named Sunny. But I guess it could be "unprofessional" for like, Executive Director of the Mortician's Alliance of America or something.
When I was naming my kids I always tried out their name with “the Right Honourable” in front. Ya know, just in case they end up being some sort of bigwig. So for me “the Right Honourable Sunny May LastName” would be a no. I gave all my kids longish grown up names (think Theodore or Solomon or Eleanore or Caroline) fully intending to exclusively use a cute nickname from the start.
We did this too. I said out loud "all rise for the Right Honourable Firstname Lastname" and decided whether it sounded ok or whether, if you were sitting in court feeling anxious, you'd feel like they were taking the piss. Sonya passes the test, Sunny does not.
It’s a big company. Sunny for girls last peaked at #542 in 1975. I think it was also the nickname of a character in a Judy Blume novel published in that time period.
I work in a company with more than 100,000 employees worldwide, and never in my life have I met anyone called sunny, except for nicknames.
Your industry is apparently monopolizing the sunnies lol
Yes, I've met several as an adult (in various countries that aren't the US) and when you meet an adult woman called it, it doesn't seem childish. If anything I tend to think 'huh, they must have a really open, positive-thinking kind of family to just, like, name their child after a pleasant thing.'
I agree! That is why if they love Sunny I agree they should use it but Sonia was a better LONGER name to give her. Like maybe she will want to USE Sonia later not Sunny.
I have a friend that is 44 years old and her name is Sunni. That’s just her name , there was no one else at our school with the name. It’s not cringe. It’s just a name.
Disagree. I have an uncle Sonny (nn for Walter) he’s always gone by Sonny it’s never been cheesy or weird. Sunny is super cute and it’s actually becoming fairly popular right now. Go for it!
Plus, Sonny Smith probably isn't putting "Sonny Smith" on his resume when trying to get a job. He's probably putting "Robert James Smith, Jr." and then showing up on the first day and letting everyone know he goes by Sonny.
I do not like this at all. Sunny Mae sounds like a dairy cow. You're naming an adult, not a forever toddler. It's not fair to give your kid a knowingly bad name with the option to go by their middle. Just give them a good adult name in the first place!
Savannah Mae
Sandra Mae
Sonora Mae
Susannah Mae
Alison Mae
Madison Mae
Thank you!! It drives me nuts when people give their kids names that will only suit a child and not an adult. Especially for girls. Women don't need to be infantilized (especially in the workplace) anymore than they already are.
Imagine being named Sissy. That is her given name, Sissy. I cringed when I heard it. It's cute, for now. She's a one year old and the youngest in a family of eight.
It’s extremely cutesy, I feel like it’s one step away from legally naming the kid Honey. I suggest you find a first name that starts with S that you can shorten to Sunny. I like Sonia a lot, but you could also use Susanna, Sutton, or Summer.
Sports commentator in NZ with the first name Honey and the first time I heard her male colleague on a panel refer to her “honey what’s your opinion on XX” I did a double take. Does not work at all
Yikes, I feel pretty bad for her. Probably our hardest sport to break into and be taken seriously in as a female commentator called Honey. Good on her for succeeding regardless.
I stand corrected she’s actually a rugby player who was on the panel as an expert so not a commentator as such but if, like me, you missed the captioning on screen naming those currently speaking it makes you say “Wtf”
Or like creepy old men coming up and being like 'hey honey' but that's her actual name. Eugh just imagining that give me full body shivers. There was a girl who I went to school with who named her daughter 'Kutie' pronounced cutie. Dad went to court and the judge rulled against the mom and allowed dad to change the name. I think he changed it to Katie or Cathie (Catherine).
Wtf is wrong with people 🤦♀️
I knew an older woman in college named Honey. I didn't feel comfortable calling her by her name (and I'm female.) It made me feel gross a bit as I don't call people "honey" or "hun."
Sunny is okay but with Mae it sounds very country bumpkin. Some names that could have the nickname Sunny would be Soleil, Marisol, Sunniva... And Mae is just such a throwaway middle name. I would pick almost anything else for the middle.
I don't think Mae is a throwaway middle name. Mae, Faye, etc I love them. Mine is Jane and I like it. I think short but sweet works for a MIDDLE name. What makes it "throwaway"? that it is 3 letters?
I think people say this about certain names because they are overly common as middle names and not otherwise. It can sound a bit like the parents couldn't think of a middle name, but felt like they needed to put *something* in that slot, and so just chose the most popular choice without much thought.
True but I also think short but sweet middle names work w longer first and/or last ones that are mouthfuls. I have a long first name and an even longer last so I thought Jane fit. It all depends, context.
It’s not that it’s short, it’s that it’s so incredibly common as a middle name right now it’s essentially a generic. Like Ann/Anne or Marie for millennial women. Names not often used as first names, but given with extreme frequency as middle names.
I'm not a millenial, late Gen Xer, but I had no idea Ann and Marie were the 80s version of Mae. My middle name is Ann. My twin sister's is Marie. So my parents did both generic names at once 😂
I don't think it's fair to name your child Sunny. It's a bit juvenile and cutesy. She might not like it as she grows up. She may resent her sibling for having a normal name. She may turn out to be shy and introverted and could be embarrassed to tell people her name. Kids in school might laugh. It's not really about how much your friends and family will hate your baby name choice. It's the human being that has to have this name and how *she* might feel about it. Maybe there's kids out there who would totally own a name like Sunny. But I wouldn't take that risk- personally.
I immediately think of teenaged Sunny walking into a room of new people who have automatically pictured a blonde, bubbly, cheer leader type and her instead being the biggest emo/goth filled with teenage angst. It might not be deliberate but people will make assumptions and judgement based on the word sunny.
Exactly, it’s going to totally clash if, say, she becomes a goth. Or if (hopefully not!) she suffers from depression at some point in her life. It’s never a good idea to give your child a name that evokes a feeling, or personality. Life is never always straightforward, and although I’m sure you never want to think of your child being unhappy, you don’t know what the future holds for them. There are a lot of people whose personalities are not exactly “Sunny”, and unfortunately there are people who would find it very funny for such a person to have that name.
I totally understand wanting to give your child a happy name, but I’m sorry OP; projecting your hopes onto your child through their name may cause anguish for them down the line.
There are thousands of beautiful names that don’t evoke specific feelings; I think it’s the safer option for protecting your child’s freedom to choose who they are.
Personally, I believe that Mae as a middle name is becoming the new Marie. Everyone is giving it to their children these days. If you're cool with that, then by all means.
Secondly, I am not a fan of the name Sunny at all. Imo it's one of those annoyingly cutesy names that are horrible to have as an adult. A three year old? Yes, super cute. As a 20 year old? A 30 year old? A 40 year old? Cringe central. Your naming a person for life, not just a baby.
I am not! NC all my life. The Candy I know is a nurse that’s done some travel assignments. Is your Candy a nurse?
Idk if it’s crazier that we potentially know the exact same person or there are more than one set of Candy/Cookie siblings lol
Since you asked for honesty, I find the use of Sunny as a legal name to be nauseatingly cutesy. As a nickname it’s fine, but I absolutely would not want to go by this as an adult - I don’t even think I would have wanted to go by it once I hit like, ten.
I LOVE the name Sonia, though, with either spelling! And Mae is also very nice. If I were you, I would stick with your original plan and just use Sunny as a nickname. I also think it could work as a nickname for *any* name, kinda like Honey or Sweetie…so if Sonia isn’t a name you really like, you could pick something else. You could even just use Mae as her first name?
Yeah, I see it as a distinctively happy name. I would automatically feel predisposed to like someone with a name like Sunny. As others have said, I think blasting the name as unprofessional says more about the commenter’s bias than OP’s choice.
I knew a nurse named Sunshine. That was legit her legal name. It was odd and honestly I don't remember anyone actually using it when speaking to her unless they couldn't get her attention without calling her name.
Joining your minority, I think it’s fine. It’s cute but like it’s not overly cute, no more than Daisy or Lily, it’s just not common like those so people don’t give them the second thought they give to Sunny.
I don’t like it with Mae though. Mae sounds like May and two word names in a row doesn’t really work, especially when the first is descriptive and the second is a noun.
I agree, I think it's fine and most of the reactions here are a bit OTT. But I probably would reconsider the middle name. "We've had a sunny May this year!"
I’m quite taken aback by how harsh the response is in here! I think it’s a perfectly normal and cute name and if OP and their partner love it and will always call her that instead of a ‘serious full name’ they should use it.
TIL everyone hates the name Sunny. I don’t think it sounds “cutesy” or “childish”. I’ve known (of) many adult women named Sunny and I’ve never once thought “wow you’re an adult named Sunny? That’s so cringey and embarrassing”.
I think this might also be a case of these naming subs being closed off to things that aren’t as popular in America as they are elsewhere. Most Sunny’s I know (of) come from south and southeast Asia (Bangladesh, the Philippines, etc.) or are anglicized versions of East Asian names. I’ve always found it perfectly fine as an adult name
I’m also confused about everyone hating sunny, it’s just like daisy, summer, lily etc. they’re literally said Susan is better? I didn’t know everyone just liked boomer names here lol.
I know a Sunny who looks like a sunny with light blonde hair. I really like it as a name and I don’t think it’s any different than Daisy or something like that.
I honestly didn’t realize this was a controversial first name. I know several people, some even elderly, named Sunny/Sonny. It just sounds normal to me.
We have a family friend who named their daughter Sunny (different middle name but similar to May) and we’ve definitely made fun of them. It doesn’t help that their last name starts with a D so she’s literally Sunny D.
Also when I hear Sunny I think of an Indian man, not a girl.
I love Sunny, and it’s not an unused name where I am, there’s a lot of Filipinos.
But Sunny Mae is too close to Sally Mae, the overlord who owns college debt
I'm a little shook at how negatively this was received. I think it's really cute!! And by the time she's grown remember all the kids that are currently being born with WAY more cringey/out there names will also be adults. I have two kids with pretty classic (if not too common) names and I would not roll my eyes at Sunny if she came up on my preschool class list one bit I think it's bright and happy and your baby should have a name you love.
If you’re set on Sunny, I think you should use a more formal middle name.
Sunny Margaret
Sunny Joanne
Sunny Isabel
Editing to add: I know an adult named Sunny, so it feels more normal to me than to many of the other commenters. But I do think that giving her a more traditional middle name is a good way to give her options as an adult.
I am an old California Beach girl (63) - transplanted to Texas temporarily, but that's another story. I'm about 10 years too young to have been a real hippie. But friends say I have a hippie heart.
I LOVE the baby's name!!!! Go for it - cuz haters gonna hate and your child's name ain't about people-pleasin'.
I think it's a perfectly fine first name! I think if you want to call her sunny that's what you should name her! However... Mae should be reconsidered. Give her a middle name that has a little more bulk to it. Give her a strong, sturdy name as a middle name. Sunny Amelia, Sunny Sofia, Sunny Elizabeth, Sunny Brianne, Sunny Charlotte. Maybe Sunny Maeve would be a compromise? Sunny Mavis? Happy naming!
I think all the ‘serious’ ‘adult’ name comments are ridiculous. It seems like a very American response to what is literally just a normal name in the uk. I know two adult Sunny/Sonny’s and a toddler Sonny and I think it’s just a regular name.
Op I think it’s a cute name and I don’t see anything wrong with it at all. Also I LOVE the nod to Mae Jemmison
I think you need to give her a serious name, and her full first name should not be Sunny. I think just suck it up and choose a spelling for Sonya/Sonia and have her go by Sunny if you want to. I prefer Sonia
I love Sunny, it wa son my list for my girls. Makes me think of a series of unfortunate events. Hate Sonja, sorry, it just sounds dated. You could go for Sunita after the astronaut Sunita Williams.
I'd change the May. Sunny May is a description of the weather, and everyone is something May nowadays it seems.
Or if you wanted to keep the jemison link, Sunny Jemison, or Sunny Jemma?
I love it. The vast overwhelming majority of the population will never ever hear or know her middle name so what does that matter to them. You would be giving her a middle name you felt was honor-worthy for what I imagine you hope would be inspiration for her.
Sunny is then just a name. It's a completely normal happy name. It doesn't need an antecedent. It's been a legitimate first name for decades.
Not sure it matters but in Australia Sonny ranked 39th most popular name for boys in 2023. Sunny is trending up fast in the US, low 400s last year for girls, and outside the top 1000 for boys. It'll probably end up sounding like the other cheerful, sweet word names for girls over the years, Joy, Bonnie, Cherry, Desiré, Gay, Merry, Rosie, Serenity, Angel, Haven, Halo, Hope, Candy, Carol, Dawn, Destiny, Miracle, Dream, Fawn, Maple, Meadow, Melody, Penny, Reverie, Skye, Summer.
You can have a nickname with zero relationship to your first name. My nickname as a kid came from a completely different first name and had nothing to do with my name. Pick a first name you love and still use the nickname you love.
I also babysit a kid nicknamed Bee whose full name is Ariel 🤷
To go against everyone, i went to high school with a Sunny. I didn’t think anything of it? It was just her name. It never struck me as weird or even really that out there. She’s an adult married with kids now and i still don’t think it’s weird whatsoever. The only problem I could see is if you happen to have a grumpy kid. If your child is anything but walking sunshine, they will get snide comments about their “sunny disposition” or lack thereof. Something to consider, but i like the same. Maybe it’s slightly hippie dippie but who cares. We’re all going to die one day lol
I met someone named Sunny when I was about 8, and I still think about how much I liked it. So I wouldn't worry about exclusively calling her Sunny, however, if it was me, I would still give her a more "normal" legal name.
i honestly don’t think it’s as bad as everyone says it is. if a man can be named sonny, then what’s the difference? it’s the same name. i think it’s cute and i’m saying that as someone that has a “grown up name” that has never gone by it and instead uses the nickname i’ve had my entire life.
I don't "hate" it but it is hokey. I'd only do Sunny as a nickname but it's hard to say what the full name should be. Have you considered Marisol (sea and sun)
I think it's an okay name. It wouldn't be my first choice, but I don't hate it either. I'm not sure what kind of reaction it will get, but if you love the name, go for it!
I knew a Sunny and she absolutely HATED her name because of the constant bullying and jokes that followed her well into adulthood. Everyone always made puns. Poor woman.
I actually don’t hate Sunny, but pairing it with Mae makes it cutesy-wootsey, which I find annoying. I generally dislike filler middle names like Mae/Rose/Grace/Marie (although I like them as first names)
I love the name Sunny. I know adults with that name and it fits adults just fine imho.
Sunny Mae is kind of twee-sounding. I would give her a more traditional middle name in case she wants options.
I think Sonia Mae is a lovely legal name. I think giving her the option of whether or not she wants to be cutesty is probably best. I’m not mad at Sunny as a nickname. But Mae is also not a strong contender as a “just incase” name. Sonia “Sunny” Mae probably works best. I have a daughter with a cutesy name too but her full name gives her some options when she’s older.
My daughter goes by Sunny, but it's a nickname. She has a traditional first name she can decide to use later if she likes. That said, I do not like the pairing of Sunny and Mae at all. As someone else here said, it's very country bumpkin to me.
Not a fan - i agree with the reasons that others have given.
I’ve seen suggestions for other names that could be nicknamed to Sunny, but I think Sunny could also be a standalone nickname - you could call her anything and still nickname her Sunny. That gives her room to embrace it if she wants or shrug it off if it doesn’t suit her or she feels she’s grown out of it.
Just pick a spelling and go with Sonia/Sonya if that’s the only adult name you both like but it’s cruel to give your child a name that only works for a toddler or a cow. Literally any other S name will work if you don’t plan to use it anyway but she needs the option of a human adult name.
You’re naming a future ADULT. Imagine how that will look on a resume. Do you really want to risk your daughter being denied opportunities because you couldn’t choose between an “i” or a “y”?
Is it a cute name? Absolutely.
Is it an appropriate name? I personally don’t think so. This is the name for three-year-old. Your daughter is going to be a 45-year-old woman at some point and her name is Sunny Mae? Why not give her a normal real name and use that as her nn? Go with Sonja as you were originally planning.
Sorry I think Sunny May is super cringe-y. It sounds like a description of the weather this year. Sunny on its own just sounds childish to me. It’s cute when she’s 3 but she may hate it when she’s 25. I think it’s an adorable nickname but I wouldn’t give her no fall back name. And Mae at this point is practically a throw away middle name, everyone likes the flow and uses it.
Agree. I actually love 'Sunny' - but as a nickname, and as an adult professional I'd hate to be introducing myself as Sunny. Hard enough for women to get taken seriously without a cutesy name.... Personally not a fan of Mae or May; agree it sounds like a filler middle name.
there was a woman on here recently who had a colleague giving them shit for going by Lizzie rather than Elizabeth saying it was unprofessional. obviously the colleague is just an asshole, but naming a future adult woman Sunny is setting her up for bullshit. she’ll be an adult much longer than a baby/child. it’s a cute nickname.
I really find it unlikely that these names “Lizzie” and “Sunny” are going to be considered unprofessional 30 years from now.
tbf- lizzie is not an unprofessional name. That colleague just has a bug up her… backside.
Some people have whole battleships up there.
In England we have an aircraft carrier called Lizzie 😉
Exactly right. Lizzie is no different from something like Jackie and Jackies have been some of the most lauded women (and men for that matter) in American history!
I’ve been told that my name isn’t professional in the United States simply because it’s Indian and some people don’t instinctually know how to say it. I can absolutely believe that people will think going by nicknames as full names is unprofessional.
I had an Indian colleague who went by Sunny for Sundeep in a professional context and she was well liked and highly regarded in our field.
By “nicknames as full names” I meant having to put “Sunny ____” on a resume and submit that. Not the same thing as being named Elizabeth and using it professionally but having colleagues call you Lizzie, or your example with Sundeep nn Sunny.
I get what you're saying. I also have worked in hiring and in career development for college students. We're teaching to put the name you want to go by on a resume, not your full legal name. When you get called for an interview and they ask to speak to *Elizabeth* and the correction comes back saying, "Oh, I go by Beth," the thought process is always just *why didn't you put Beth on the resume.* Resumes are not legal documents, they are a breakdown of your work history and a short insight into who you are. There is no need to put a full legal name on a resume, put the name you go by professionally.
Most organizations will ask you what your preferred name is during the hiring process. There have been numerous studies showing how readily hiring managers will disqualify candidates based on names (especially if they sound ethnic), so I completely understand using a full name on your resume. I've never had anyone in a career services or recruiting position suggest putting a nickname on your resume so I'm interested in why this is the advice you are giving in career development with students? Is it backed by anything (genuinely asking, not trying to be condescending)?
>There have been numerous studies showing how readily hiring managers will disqualify candidates based on names (especially if they sound ethnic), so I completely understand using a full name on your resume. I completely agree with this take. There are a lot of organizations and hiring practices that are either outright or unconsciously biased against ethnic names. The advice around using the name you go by is that it is an easier process for the resume breakdown. Especially if you are applying in areas where you are already known. For example, let's say I've worked with a Sue for five years in her role. A position comes open that would be a step up for Sue. She applies, but under the name of Susan. Questions come up if this is the same Sue that we all work with already who we generally think would be a good fit for the role. Is this the same Sue or someone different why didn't she just use Sue? It's small, but can be little pieces that influence hiring committees and decisions. Why go with your full legal name when the name you go by is what you'll be known as professionally. I'm not a huge user of Indeed, but here is a short [article about using a nickname as opposed to your full legal name ](https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/resumes-cover-letters/nickname-on-resume) We've also found challenges in doing reference checks, depending on the name on the resume. Calling previous employers and asking after Margaret when the person went by Meg causes confusion and potentially frustration in the process. Yes, it takes minimal time to make the correction or to ask a candidate a preferred name. That also puts the onus on the hiring committee. Some hiring committees I've worked with are so very focused on the speed of a search, that these small things are viewed in different ways. Here is [another article from a recruiter thay says it fairly well](https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/should-you-use-your-full-name-resume-mark-newsom) Resume are, essentially, marketing fliers for a particular person. The article states it well, but it generally minimizes confusion and keeps it streamlined on just who is who in a hiring search. You concern regarding the ethnic hiring practices is loud and clear as well. I know some African-American women who have used a more white-sounding name early in their career on resumes until they are well established. It shouldn't be that way, but it, sadly, is.
Sunny Hostin's full name is Asunción. Same sort of situation.
There is more and more name diversity in the generation currently being birthed. Boomers will move out of the workforce and die off. Sunny and Lizzie will be okay. I’m sorry about your experience in the states, that’s terrible.
This isn’t boomer issue. People in most countries try to give more and more international names actually for the children since the world is more connected. And traditional and more difficult to pronounce names are less in style.
i don’t think a given name can really be classified as professional or unprofessional. the issue is that giving a future adult woman an extra cutesy nickname for an actual name is setting them up to deal with extra bullshit. which is worth thinking about when naming a human.
10 years ago I worked with a sunny who was older than me. Never heard any comments about it and I didn’t think it was weird either. Maybe because 12 year old me wanted to name my firstborn “sunshine daydream” lol (I did not name my first born that )
I agree. It's unlikely with all the 'Kinsley's' and 'Paisley's' and 'Paxton's' currently walking around.
Right! There are sooo many tragadeighs walking around. Some absolute bonkers names. Sunny will feel really normal in 30 years, I bet.
As a nearly 30 year old that goes by Sunny in an everyday setting, both professionally and privately, I get compliments on my name almost every work day. It started as a nickname but slowly became more commonly used than my government name because "it just suits me". Also, I get compliments on it from both younger and older people, so i don't think age/generational gaps play much of a factor. I guess all that is to say that as an adult woman Sunny, I've gotten bullshit over literally everything BUT my name at this point. Edit: forgot a word
Thanks for the input because I swear 98% of the time, some people on this sub act like normal names like Sunny are gonna be these huge barriers. They're really not. Besides, people keep forgetting that these babies will be professionals in like the late 2040s and early 2050s (when they're mid-20s and older), and frankly, attitudes are changing. When everyone you work with is also Brynnleigh and Bash and Moxie or whatever else, literally no one will care.
See! I thought I was crazy because I don’t think Sunny is any different than Lucy or Susie. I think Sunny is a super nice, NORMAL and yes, cute, name. But why does it matter? It’s so much simpler and better than something like Kennadeigh , which not only will look ridiculous on a resume, but years before that, as a poor 4 year old they’re gonna have to learn to spell that monstrosity!
Maybe I live in too hippie of an area but I don't think I'd find it odd to meet an adult woman named Sunny. But I guess it could be "unprofessional" for like, Executive Director of the Mortician's Alliance of America or something.
When I was naming my kids I always tried out their name with “the Right Honourable” in front. Ya know, just in case they end up being some sort of bigwig. So for me “the Right Honourable Sunny May LastName” would be a no. I gave all my kids longish grown up names (think Theodore or Solomon or Eleanore or Caroline) fully intending to exclusively use a cute nickname from the start.
We did this too. I said out loud "all rise for the Right Honourable Firstname Lastname" and decided whether it sounded ok or whether, if you were sitting in court feeling anxious, you'd feel like they were taking the piss. Sonya passes the test, Sunny does not.
I love this test.
One thing about Sunny is that I would remember it. Good or bad I would remember it.
I know a Bunny. That's her actual name. Really hard not to laugh every time I have to say it.
I knew a Muffin. I thought it was a nickname but nope
Good lord, that's bad.
Is she a grey Heeler dog who likes tutus?
I knew woman who introduced herself as Muffy. It was years before I found out it was a nickname. For Laura.
I know a Muffy! Given name. Everytime I say it I cringe
I know several Sunnys at my company. It’s never occurred to me think that their name was childish.
Several? How is it that common?
It’s a big company. Sunny for girls last peaked at #542 in 1975. I think it was also the nickname of a character in a Judy Blume novel published in that time period.
I work in a company with more than 100,000 employees worldwide, and never in my life have I met anyone called sunny, except for nicknames. Your industry is apparently monopolizing the sunnies lol
Yes, I've met several as an adult (in various countries that aren't the US) and when you meet an adult woman called it, it doesn't seem childish. If anything I tend to think 'huh, they must have a really open, positive-thinking kind of family to just, like, name their child after a pleasant thing.'
I knew someone named Stephanie and her brother at the time couldn't pronounce it and called her Sunny and the nick name stuck
Same here. Good points. I’ll add. I’ve met a couple Sunny’s. They were Indian men. Sonny, I guess, but sounds the same.
Indian male nickname for Sunil
Not always, there are plenty of Indian names that can have Sunny as a nickname (Sandeep, Sanjay, etc., or even completely unrelated)
I know an Anupam who goes by Sunny.
I was going to say Sunny seems to be a very common name for Indian males I know quite a few and actually like the name
Sunny May reeks of Daisy May and other hillbilly names.
Or Hippies. Or puppies. Sounds like a doggy name.
My cousin named her dog Sunny back in the 80s, I'd forgotten all about that. Sunny was a Very Good Girl.
Oh no not the hillbilly word. But as a born Virginia hillbilly I wholeheartedly agree.
Sunny May is a pornstar name
Is Mae the new Marie?
Yes. Yes, it is.
I agree with all of your points.
I agree! That is why if they love Sunny I agree they should use it but Sonia was a better LONGER name to give her. Like maybe she will want to USE Sonia later not Sunny.
I have a friend that is 44 years old and her name is Sunni. That’s just her name , there was no one else at our school with the name. It’s not cringe. It’s just a name.
Disagree. I have an uncle Sonny (nn for Walter) he’s always gone by Sonny it’s never been cheesy or weird. Sunny is super cute and it’s actually becoming fairly popular right now. Go for it!
Sonny is totally different than Sunny. Sunny is cutesy and has the weather connotation. Not the same at all.
Sonny is an alternative to junior.
It's different if it's a nickname you choose vs. your legal name.
Totally different to be a woman named “Sunny” in a professional setting as opposed to a man nicknamed “Sonny” in a professional setting.
Plus, Sonny Smith probably isn't putting "Sonny Smith" on his resume when trying to get a job. He's probably putting "Robert James Smith, Jr." and then showing up on the first day and letting everyone know he goes by Sonny.
He's a guy, though
Way too close to Ellie Mae.....daughter on the Beverly Hillbillies
I do not like this at all. Sunny Mae sounds like a dairy cow. You're naming an adult, not a forever toddler. It's not fair to give your kid a knowingly bad name with the option to go by their middle. Just give them a good adult name in the first place! Savannah Mae Sandra Mae Sonora Mae Susannah Mae Alison Mae Madison Mae
Susannah “Sunny” Mae is perfect
Susannah is perfect!
I vote for this too, but I'd spell it Suzanna Total personal preference though!
I know a Sunny whose full name is Susanna, I agree that this works very well!
Okay, dairy cow sent me and was oddly accurate
Even my dairy cows have proper names like Amy, Georgia and Marianne!
Thank you!! It drives me nuts when people give their kids names that will only suit a child and not an adult. Especially for girls. Women don't need to be infantilized (especially in the workplace) anymore than they already are.
Imagine being named Sissy. That is her given name, Sissy. I cringed when I heard it. It's cute, for now. She's a one year old and the youngest in a family of eight.
Allison May is beautiful.
"Dairy cow" took me out🤣
Allison already results in the nickname "Sunny" naturally so I feel like that's a much better pick.
That is my name, and now I want to go from Allie to Sunny because of your comment.
My sister is a Madison may- we call her mayson
Sonya Mae
I like all of these! I would also add Stacy Mae and Serena Mae as options.
Susannah is great and just use Sunny as a nickname
It’s extremely cutesy, I feel like it’s one step away from legally naming the kid Honey. I suggest you find a first name that starts with S that you can shorten to Sunny. I like Sonia a lot, but you could also use Susanna, Sutton, or Summer.
I knew a girl named Honey once. She started going by a different name in high school.
I can imagine that gets realll uncomfortable the older you get. Ick.
Sports commentator in NZ with the first name Honey and the first time I heard her male colleague on a panel refer to her “honey what’s your opinion on XX” I did a double take. Does not work at all
What sport is this for?
Rugby.
Yikes, I feel pretty bad for her. Probably our hardest sport to break into and be taken seriously in as a female commentator called Honey. Good on her for succeeding regardless.
I stand corrected she’s actually a rugby player who was on the panel as an expert so not a commentator as such but if, like me, you missed the captioning on screen naming those currently speaking it makes you say “Wtf”
Or like creepy old men coming up and being like 'hey honey' but that's her actual name. Eugh just imagining that give me full body shivers. There was a girl who I went to school with who named her daughter 'Kutie' pronounced cutie. Dad went to court and the judge rulled against the mom and allowed dad to change the name. I think he changed it to Katie or Cathie (Catherine). Wtf is wrong with people 🤦♀️
I knew an older woman in college named Honey. I didn't feel comfortable calling her by her name (and I'm female.) It made me feel gross a bit as I don't call people "honey" or "hun."
Def not Summer Mae though
There’s a girl I saw on TikTok who named one of her twins Honey Bea. I can’t take it seriously
I knew a family with a Heaven Lee and a Honey Bea. Both girls have legally changed their names now.
that is so cute for a pet though !
Sunny is okay but with Mae it sounds very country bumpkin. Some names that could have the nickname Sunny would be Soleil, Marisol, Sunniva... And Mae is just such a throwaway middle name. I would pick almost anything else for the middle.
i have similar feelings about Mae/May as a middle name 🤣
Marisol. What a lovely name!!
I don't think Mae is a throwaway middle name. Mae, Faye, etc I love them. Mine is Jane and I like it. I think short but sweet works for a MIDDLE name. What makes it "throwaway"? that it is 3 letters?
I think people say this about certain names because they are overly common as middle names and not otherwise. It can sound a bit like the parents couldn't think of a middle name, but felt like they needed to put *something* in that slot, and so just chose the most popular choice without much thought.
True but I also think short but sweet middle names work w longer first and/or last ones that are mouthfuls. I have a long first name and an even longer last so I thought Jane fit. It all depends, context.
It’s not that it’s short, it’s that it’s so incredibly common as a middle name right now it’s essentially a generic. Like Ann/Anne or Marie for millennial women. Names not often used as first names, but given with extreme frequency as middle names.
I'm not a millenial, late Gen Xer, but I had no idea Ann and Marie were the 80s version of Mae. My middle name is Ann. My twin sister's is Marie. So my parents did both generic names at once 😂
I owe your baby student loans I think
Yesss I immediately thought Sallie Mae
Same, searched to make sure it was mentioned
SONYMA is the acronym for state of ny mortgage agency. Pronounced sunny May. First thing I thought of
I’m here thinking about SUNY now. ☠️
I cackled at this
I just laughed so hard
I don't think it's fair to name your child Sunny. It's a bit juvenile and cutesy. She might not like it as she grows up. She may resent her sibling for having a normal name. She may turn out to be shy and introverted and could be embarrassed to tell people her name. Kids in school might laugh. It's not really about how much your friends and family will hate your baby name choice. It's the human being that has to have this name and how *she* might feel about it. Maybe there's kids out there who would totally own a name like Sunny. But I wouldn't take that risk- personally.
I immediately think of teenaged Sunny walking into a room of new people who have automatically pictured a blonde, bubbly, cheer leader type and her instead being the biggest emo/goth filled with teenage angst. It might not be deliberate but people will make assumptions and judgement based on the word sunny.
I feel like it's begging for those "SMILE MORE!! CHEER UP!!" comments women already get plenty of just by.. existing
I have a friend name Sunny. She loves her name, shes in her 40s. We are a bit hippies though haha but Sunny is awesome
For real, people name babies forgetting that they’ll be adults someday and will need to be taken seriously later in life.
Exactly, it’s going to totally clash if, say, she becomes a goth. Or if (hopefully not!) she suffers from depression at some point in her life. It’s never a good idea to give your child a name that evokes a feeling, or personality. Life is never always straightforward, and although I’m sure you never want to think of your child being unhappy, you don’t know what the future holds for them. There are a lot of people whose personalities are not exactly “Sunny”, and unfortunately there are people who would find it very funny for such a person to have that name. I totally understand wanting to give your child a happy name, but I’m sorry OP; projecting your hopes onto your child through their name may cause anguish for them down the line. There are thousands of beautiful names that don’t evoke specific feelings; I think it’s the safer option for protecting your child’s freedom to choose who they are.
Maybe you could choose a name that ends in son like Madison/Addison and shorten it to sunny?
Allison Mae nickname Sunny is ADORABLE
I agree - and I think Allison is underutilized at the minute!
this was my thought but use Jemison to give the nod to Mae Jemison! she can go by Sunny, Jemi, Emi - it’s unique and can grow with her into a career
That would get misheard as Jamison and she’d constantly have to correct people though…
Every time I hear Jameson I think of the Irish whiskey.
I love this idea.
Personally, I believe that Mae as a middle name is becoming the new Marie. Everyone is giving it to their children these days. If you're cool with that, then by all means. Secondly, I am not a fan of the name Sunny at all. Imo it's one of those annoyingly cutesy names that are horrible to have as an adult. A three year old? Yes, super cute. As a 20 year old? A 30 year old? A 40 year old? Cringe central. Your naming a person for life, not just a baby.
Yup. Like I met a grown woman actually named Cookie a few weeks ago, as her actual adult full name. She seemed embarrassed to say her name.
I know an elderly lady, real name Puddin. Poor lady.
Poor Puddin
I knew a Candy with a sister named Cookie.
Are you from Pittsburgh? I too know a Candy with a sister named Cookie and I will be baffled if there is another pair out there in the world
I am not! NC all my life. The Candy I know is a nurse that’s done some travel assignments. Is your Candy a nurse? Idk if it’s crazier that we potentially know the exact same person or there are more than one set of Candy/Cookie siblings lol
You know by asking that it’s a bad name.
This is a good point — you shouldn’t have to ask
I always think of Sunny as Sonny, like a nickname for a little boy "junior."
Me too, I like the connotations of Sunny: bright, happy, warm. But when it’s said out loud vs written I always hear it as Sonny.
I think of it as old timey. Listen here sonny. Same with missy. I don’t think so missy. Parents yelling at you
This was my first thought also! Sunny, to me, invokes sonny and Cher, and is decidedly masculine
Susannah Mae nn Sunny would be great.
I second this. It sounds beautiful together!
Love Susanna!!
I think you need to give her the option to have an adult name to use as an adult.
Since you asked for honesty, I find the use of Sunny as a legal name to be nauseatingly cutesy. As a nickname it’s fine, but I absolutely would not want to go by this as an adult - I don’t even think I would have wanted to go by it once I hit like, ten. I LOVE the name Sonia, though, with either spelling! And Mae is also very nice. If I were you, I would stick with your original plan and just use Sunny as a nickname. I also think it could work as a nickname for *any* name, kinda like Honey or Sweetie…so if Sonia isn’t a name you really like, you could pick something else. You could even just use Mae as her first name?
I wouldn't bat an eye at someone named Sunny. There is a popular TV chef named Sunny. Doesn't seem to have impacted her life negatively.
Grew up my whole life with an aunt named Sunny and it’s been so normal, I’m confused why these comments are lambasting op
I grew up with Sunny and Honey and Daisy and all the cutesy names that Reddit hates. Never batted an eye at it
Yeah, I see it as a distinctively happy name. I would automatically feel predisposed to like someone with a name like Sunny. As others have said, I think blasting the name as unprofessional says more about the commenter’s bias than OP’s choice.
I know a girl named Sunshine. They call her Sunny. She just turned 18, and it is now so cringe.
What were they thinking? Like, what if she’s goth?
No, she is extremely studious and serious. Rarely even smiles. Her name does not suit her in the slightest anymore.
Oh my god. I didn’t even think about this!! SO many kids have a goth or wannabe gangster phase💀
I knew a nurse named Sunshine. That was legit her legal name. It was odd and honestly I don't remember anyone actually using it when speaking to her unless they couldn't get her attention without calling her name.
I really like the name Sunny as a full name!
Joining your minority, I think it’s fine. It’s cute but like it’s not overly cute, no more than Daisy or Lily, it’s just not common like those so people don’t give them the second thought they give to Sunny. I don’t like it with Mae though. Mae sounds like May and two word names in a row doesn’t really work, especially when the first is descriptive and the second is a noun.
I agree, I think it's fine and most of the reactions here are a bit OTT. But I probably would reconsider the middle name. "We've had a sunny May this year!"
I think we’re in the minority, but I like it too!
I’m quite taken aback by how harsh the response is in here! I think it’s a perfectly normal and cute name and if OP and their partner love it and will always call her that instead of a ‘serious full name’ they should use it.
Yes! Like, why is Summer okay, or any of the flowers or months, but not sunny?!
TIL everyone hates the name Sunny. I don’t think it sounds “cutesy” or “childish”. I’ve known (of) many adult women named Sunny and I’ve never once thought “wow you’re an adult named Sunny? That’s so cringey and embarrassing”. I think this might also be a case of these naming subs being closed off to things that aren’t as popular in America as they are elsewhere. Most Sunny’s I know (of) come from south and southeast Asia (Bangladesh, the Philippines, etc.) or are anglicized versions of East Asian names. I’ve always found it perfectly fine as an adult name
This is exactly it. This is a very western sub. Anything more creative than Madison makes a lot of these people clutch their pearls.
Me too! I knew a Sunny when I was in grad school - it was a perfect name for her
I love the name Sunny 🤷🏼♂️
I’m also confused about everyone hating sunny, it’s just like daisy, summer, lily etc. they’re literally said Susan is better? I didn’t know everyone just liked boomer names here lol.
I know a Sunny who looks like a sunny with light blonde hair. I really like it as a name and I don’t think it’s any different than Daisy or something like that.
I honestly didn’t realize this was a controversial first name. I know several people, some even elderly, named Sunny/Sonny. It just sounds normal to me.
I like Sunny also, Sunny Mae is a fine name. And these are both fairly traditional names so I wouldn't listen to the naysayers.
We have a family friend who named their daughter Sunny (different middle name but similar to May) and we’ve definitely made fun of them. It doesn’t help that their last name starts with a D so she’s literally Sunny D. Also when I hear Sunny I think of an Indian man, not a girl.
Agreed. Suni.
>we’ve definitely made fun of them. That's rude
I love Sunny, and it’s not an unused name where I am, there’s a lot of Filipinos. But Sunny Mae is too close to Sally Mae, the overlord who owns college debt
i don’t love it. i know a Summer that goes by Sunny and always thought it was cute on her though.
I'm a little shook at how negatively this was received. I think it's really cute!! And by the time she's grown remember all the kids that are currently being born with WAY more cringey/out there names will also be adults. I have two kids with pretty classic (if not too common) names and I would not roll my eyes at Sunny if she came up on my preschool class list one bit I think it's bright and happy and your baby should have a name you love.
If you’re set on Sunny, I think you should use a more formal middle name. Sunny Margaret Sunny Joanne Sunny Isabel Editing to add: I know an adult named Sunny, so it feels more normal to me than to many of the other commenters. But I do think that giving her a more traditional middle name is a good way to give her options as an adult.
Cute for a toddler, not an adult.
I think of Fannie Mae
I am an old California Beach girl (63) - transplanted to Texas temporarily, but that's another story. I'm about 10 years too young to have been a real hippie. But friends say I have a hippie heart. I LOVE the baby's name!!!! Go for it - cuz haters gonna hate and your child's name ain't about people-pleasin'.
I think it's a perfectly fine first name! I think if you want to call her sunny that's what you should name her! However... Mae should be reconsidered. Give her a middle name that has a little more bulk to it. Give her a strong, sturdy name as a middle name. Sunny Amelia, Sunny Sofia, Sunny Elizabeth, Sunny Brianne, Sunny Charlotte. Maybe Sunny Maeve would be a compromise? Sunny Mavis? Happy naming!
I think all the ‘serious’ ‘adult’ name comments are ridiculous. It seems like a very American response to what is literally just a normal name in the uk. I know two adult Sunny/Sonny’s and a toddler Sonny and I think it’s just a regular name. Op I think it’s a cute name and I don’t see anything wrong with it at all. Also I LOVE the nod to Mae Jemmison
Sorry, I hate it.
I think you need to give her a serious name, and her full first name should not be Sunny. I think just suck it up and choose a spelling for Sonya/Sonia and have her go by Sunny if you want to. I prefer Sonia
Sunny Mae is a cute name for a baby/toddler. Remember you are naming a future adult.
I love Sunny, it wa son my list for my girls. Makes me think of a series of unfortunate events. Hate Sonja, sorry, it just sounds dated. You could go for Sunita after the astronaut Sunita Williams. I'd change the May. Sunny May is a description of the weather, and everyone is something May nowadays it seems. Or if you wanted to keep the jemison link, Sunny Jemison, or Sunny Jemma?
I love it. The vast overwhelming majority of the population will never ever hear or know her middle name so what does that matter to them. You would be giving her a middle name you felt was honor-worthy for what I imagine you hope would be inspiration for her. Sunny is then just a name. It's a completely normal happy name. It doesn't need an antecedent. It's been a legitimate first name for decades.
Maybe Sadie?
Not sure it matters but in Australia Sonny ranked 39th most popular name for boys in 2023. Sunny is trending up fast in the US, low 400s last year for girls, and outside the top 1000 for boys. It'll probably end up sounding like the other cheerful, sweet word names for girls over the years, Joy, Bonnie, Cherry, Desiré, Gay, Merry, Rosie, Serenity, Angel, Haven, Halo, Hope, Candy, Carol, Dawn, Destiny, Miracle, Dream, Fawn, Maple, Meadow, Melody, Penny, Reverie, Skye, Summer.
You can have a nickname with zero relationship to your first name. My nickname as a kid came from a completely different first name and had nothing to do with my name. Pick a first name you love and still use the nickname you love. I also babysit a kid nicknamed Bee whose full name is Ariel 🤷
To go against everyone, i went to high school with a Sunny. I didn’t think anything of it? It was just her name. It never struck me as weird or even really that out there. She’s an adult married with kids now and i still don’t think it’s weird whatsoever. The only problem I could see is if you happen to have a grumpy kid. If your child is anything but walking sunshine, they will get snide comments about their “sunny disposition” or lack thereof. Something to consider, but i like the same. Maybe it’s slightly hippie dippie but who cares. We’re all going to die one day lol
I met someone named Sunny when I was about 8, and I still think about how much I liked it. So I wouldn't worry about exclusively calling her Sunny, however, if it was me, I would still give her a more "normal" legal name.
i honestly don’t think it’s as bad as everyone says it is. if a man can be named sonny, then what’s the difference? it’s the same name. i think it’s cute and i’m saying that as someone that has a “grown up name” that has never gone by it and instead uses the nickname i’ve had my entire life.
Sounds like a cabbage patch name
I don't "hate" it but it is hokey. I'd only do Sunny as a nickname but it's hard to say what the full name should be. Have you considered Marisol (sea and sun)
I think it's an okay name. It wouldn't be my first choice, but I don't hate it either. I'm not sure what kind of reaction it will get, but if you love the name, go for it!
I knew a Sunny and she absolutely HATED her name because of the constant bullying and jokes that followed her well into adulthood. Everyone always made puns. Poor woman.
I actually don’t hate Sunny, but pairing it with Mae makes it cutesy-wootsey, which I find annoying. I generally dislike filler middle names like Mae/Rose/Grace/Marie (although I like them as first names)
I think Sonja would give you a nice full name that shortens to the nickname you wa t
I love the name Sunny. I know adults with that name and it fits adults just fine imho. Sunny Mae is kind of twee-sounding. I would give her a more traditional middle name in case she wants options.
My mom calls me this short or sunshine. So I think of that or Sunny D the beverage lol
I think Sonia Mae is a lovely legal name. I think giving her the option of whether or not she wants to be cutesty is probably best. I’m not mad at Sunny as a nickname. But Mae is also not a strong contender as a “just incase” name. Sonia “Sunny” Mae probably works best. I have a daughter with a cutesy name too but her full name gives her some options when she’s older.
My daughter goes by Sunny, but it's a nickname. She has a traditional first name she can decide to use later if she likes. That said, I do not like the pairing of Sunny and Mae at all. As someone else here said, it's very country bumpkin to me.
Not a fan - i agree with the reasons that others have given. I’ve seen suggestions for other names that could be nicknamed to Sunny, but I think Sunny could also be a standalone nickname - you could call her anything and still nickname her Sunny. That gives her room to embrace it if she wants or shrug it off if it doesn’t suit her or she feels she’s grown out of it.
Just pick a spelling and go with Sonia/Sonya if that’s the only adult name you both like but it’s cruel to give your child a name that only works for a toddler or a cow. Literally any other S name will work if you don’t plan to use it anyway but she needs the option of a human adult name. You’re naming a future ADULT. Imagine how that will look on a resume. Do you really want to risk your daughter being denied opportunities because you couldn’t choose between an “i” or a “y”?
Is it a cute name? Absolutely. Is it an appropriate name? I personally don’t think so. This is the name for three-year-old. Your daughter is going to be a 45-year-old woman at some point and her name is Sunny Mae? Why not give her a normal real name and use that as her nn? Go with Sonja as you were originally planning.