Penny

Penny is a girl's name of English origin. Its meaning is not recorded in the standard references we check — we would rather tell you that plainly than guess. In 2024 it was given to 376 girls in the United States.

Penny at a glance

Gender
Girl name
Origin
English & American
Meaning
Not recorded in standard references
Pronunciation
/ˈpɛni/

About the name Penny

Penny belongs to the English & American tradition. Its roots are documented, even though its precise meaning is not recorded in the standard references — an honest gap we prefer to a confident guess.

In the United States, Penny first appears in Social Security records in 1882. It climbed to its best-ever rank of #86 in 1963, and in 2024 376 babies received the name — 100,247 in total since 1880. Those are the official counts, not estimates.

Penny in US records

First recorded (US)
1882
Best US rank
#86 in 1963
Peak year
1963
Babies named Penny in 2024
376
Total since 1880
100,247

Penny in England & Wales records

First recorded (since 1996)
1996
Best rank
#166 in 2020
Babies named Penny in 2025
201
Total since 1996
4,595

Similar names

More names from the English & American shelf:

Frequently asked questions

What does the name Penny mean?

The meaning of Penny is not recorded in the standard references we check. Rather than repeat an unsourced claim, we leave it open — its English origin is documented, but its exact meaning is not.

Is Penny a boy or girl name?

Penny is a girl name. In 2024, 376 babies received the name in the US.

What origin is the name Penny?

Penny comes from the English & American tradition.

How popular is the name Penny?

Penny first appears in US records in 1882. Its best-ever ranking was #86 in 1963, and 376 babies were given the name in 2024.

How do you pronounce Penny?

Penny is pronounced /ˈpɛni/ (IPA).

Meaning and origin for this page were checked against this source. US popularity figures are from the Social Security Administration's public baby-names data. England & Wales figures are from the Office for National Statistics. If you spot an error, write to [email protected] — accuracy is the whole point of this site, and corrections are made fast.