Penny
Penny: name meaning, origin and popularity
Pronunciation (IPA): /ˈpɛni/
Meaning and origin of Penny
- A diminutive of the female given name Penelope.
Etymology
From Pen(elope) + -y.
How popular is Penny?
Since 1880, 100,619 girls and 384 boys in the U.S. have been named Penny (100% girls). Its highest rank for girls was #86 in 1963. Its highest rank for boys was #1580 in 1962. In 2025 it ranked #740 for girls, with 368 babies given the name.
Names similar to Penny
Names that start with the same letters, most popular first.
Sibling name ideas for Penny
Names that peaked around the same time as Penny and are still in the U.S. top 1,000.
Penny FAQ
What does the name Penny mean?
A diminutive of the female given name Penelope. From Pen(elope) + -y.
How popular is the name Penny?
Since 1880, 100,619 girls and 384 boys in the U.S. have been named Penny (100% girls). Its highest rank for girls was #86 in 1963. Its highest rank for boys was #1580 in 1962. In 2025 it ranked #740 for girls, with 368 babies given the name.
Is Penny a boy or girl name?
Penny is mostly a girl name in the U.S.: 100,619 girls and 384 boys since 1880.
Popularity data: U.S. Social Security Administration baby name data, 1880–2025 (names given to 5+ babies per year). Origin and etymology text: Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.