Sunita Williams’ nicknames are fascinating: Here’s what they are and what they mean

If you have followed Sunita Williams even a little, you have probably noticed that people rarely call her by her full name. And that’s kind of the point. Nicknames stick when someone feels familiar, approachable, real.

And Sunita Williams has always come across that way, even when she’s there hundreds of kilometers above Earth.

“Suni”, the name everyone uses

Most people know her simply as Suni. Friends, fellow astronauts, interviewers, and even NASA folks use it naturally, like it’s second nature. It’s short, warm, and easy to say. But more than that, it fits her personality.Suni doesn’t sound distant or formal. It sounds like someone you could talk to. And that matches how she carries herself.

She laughs easily. She speaks plainly. She explains complicated space stuff in a way that makes you think, Oh, maybe I could understand this too. So the nickname stuck, and it stuck for a reason.As per reports, she has another nickname, Soncka. Soncka sounds soft, playful, and affectionate. It hints at warmth and familiarity, the side of Sunita that exists away from spacesuits and missions.In India, the name Sunita is very familiar. The name comes from Sanskrit.

It’s usually understood to mean “well-behaved,” “kind,” “good-natured,” or “having good morals.” Break it down a bit, and “su” means good or positive, while “nita” relates to being guided or led. So together, Sunita carries the idea of someone who is guided by goodness. Not perfect. Just sincere and decent.Sunita Williams was born on September 19, 1965, in Euclid, Ohio, but her story really starts with her family.

Her father, Deepak Pandya, was an Indian-American neuroscientist, and her mother, Bonnie Pandya, was of Slovenian-American background. Growing up, Sunita was surrounded by different cultures, and that mix played a quiet but important role in shaping who she became. As a kid, she wasn’t the type people would immediately point at and say, “Future astronaut.” She was active, curious, and always on the move. Sports were a big part of her life, especially swimming and running.

She liked pushing herself physically, which later turned out to be perfect training for the kind of life she chose. Sunita went to high school in Needham, Massachusetts. After that, she joined the U.S. Naval Academy, graduating in 1987 with a degree in physical science. After the academy, she became a helicopter pilot in the U.S. Navy. She flew in challenging conditions and eventually served in the Persian Gulf during Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm. Later, she trained as a test pilot, which meant flying new or modified aircraft and dealing with risks most people would never sign up for. But for Sunita, it was about learning, improving, and staying calm when things got tough.Somewhere along the way, NASA noticed. Her flying experience, discipline, and steady mindset made her a strong candidate. In 1998, she was selected as an astronaut, opening the door to the chapter everyone knows today.