Penny
How to say it: PEN-ee · /ˈpɛni/
Diminutive of Penelope, from Greek 'Penelopeia', possibly meaning 'weaver' or related to 'pene' (thread) + 'ops' (face).
Penny was the 720th most popular girls’ name in the United States in 2025, given to 368 babies (Social Security Administration). Its busiest decade was the 1960s, its births are steady over ten years, and it is projected to rise to #701 by 2030.
Updated · SSA 2025 data, published May 2026 · Insee 2025 data, published July 2026 · How we compute these figures
Key facts
| Rank among girls’ names, 2025 | #720 |
|---|---|
| Babies born in 2025 | 368 |
| Share of births | 1 in 9,009 |
| Peak decade | 1960s |
| Change over 10 years | −1% |
| Projected rank for 2030 (estimate) | #701 |
| In France, 2025 | #2,541 among girls’ names, 5 births |
Sources: Social Security Administration (SSA), Insee (France). How we compute these figures.
Its life, decade by decade
Popular in the 1960s, Penny now sits far beneath that height. Still well used, it is poised to rise again.
What goes with it
Bright and gentle with soft crisp sounds. Molly shares its cheerful style.
In the classroom
In a class of 25 children born in 2025, the chance that another child is called Penny is about under 1 in 200.
Around the world
This spelling is used in English, Greek.
In France: #2,541 for girls in 2025.
England and Wales: #233. Ireland: #159.
Famous people named Penny
- Penny Marshall (1943–2018)American actress, director and producer
- Penny Mordaunt (born 1973)British politician
- Penny Johnson Jerald (born 1961)American actress
From Wikidata and Wikipedia
Good to know
- Penny Hofstadter, female lead of The Big Bang Theory (2007-2019).
Keep exploring
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