Penny
Meaning & Origin
Meaning: Pen; Head
Background: The name Penny originates from the English diminutive of the name Penelope, which itself comes from the Greek 'penelops,' possibly linked to the word for 'head' or 'to weave.' The development of the name reflects the transformation from a longer form to a more affectionate and approachable short name.
At a glance
Quick stats based on the history of this name.
Lifetime rank
#372
Total births
100,631
Most popular decade
1960s
(115,053 births)
10-year trend
↑ Rising (+63 ranks)
Years in Top 100
4
First recorded year
1882
Gender usage
0.4% male
99.6% female
Stats by gender
Male
- First year
- 1915
- First year births
- 5
- First year rank
- #3,825
- Peak year
- 1962
- Peak year births
- 26
- Peak rank
- #1,547
- Most recent year
- 1974
- Recent year births
- 7
- Recent rank
- #4,191
Female
- First year
- 1882
- First year births
- 5
- First year rank
- #908
- Peak year
- 1963
- Peak year births
- 5,127
- Peak rank
- #86
- Most recent year
- 2024
- Recent year births
- 376
- Recent rank
- #745
Births over time
Number of babies given this name each year.
Rank over time
Popularity rank by year (1 = most popular).