Penny Name Meaning, Origin and Popularity
Penny is predominantly used for girls. The statistics below show this exact spelling in official U.S. records.
How Do You Spell Penny?
Penny is spelled P-E-N-N-Y. The name has 5 letters.
Penny at a Glance
- Usage
- Predominantly used for girls
- Meaning
- Penny originates from the English word for a small coin historically made of precious metal and used as currency.
- Origin
- Penny is commonly associated with English-speaking cultures as a diminutive form of Penelope or as a standalone name derived from the coin's name.
- Pronunciation
- PEH-nee · 2 syllables
Penny Popularity in 2025
Rank#740
Recorded Births368
- Girls usage rose 7 places to #740 and recorded 9 fewer births compared with 2024.
Figures reflect this exact spelling in the latest available U.S. Social Security Administration records. See the complete year-by-year trend.
What Does the Name Penny Mean?
Penny originates from the English word for a small coin historically made of precious metal and used as currency.
Origin: Penny is commonly associated with English-speaking cultures as a diminutive form of Penelope or as a standalone name derived from the coin's name.
How Do You Pronounce Penny?
PronunciationPEH-nee
Syllables2
What Is the History of the Name Penny?
- History
- The use of Penny as a given name has been documented primarily in English-speaking countries from the 19th century onward, evolving from a nickname to an independent given name.
Penny Popularity by Year
The table below shows the most recent available records for this exact spelling from 2002 through 2025. Use the full history page to explore every recorded year.
| Year | Usage Category | Recorded Births | National Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Girls | 368 | #740 |
| 2024 | Girls | 377 | #747 |
| 2023 | Girls | 434 | #676 |
| 2022 | Girls | 402 | #726 |
| 2021 | Girls | 409 | #704 |
| 2020 | Girls | 383 | #725 |
| 2019 | Girls | 362 | #768 |
| 2018 | Girls | 363 | #751 |
| 2017 | Girls | 361 | #768 |
| 2016 | Girls | 419 | #692 |
| 2015 | Girls | 372 | #757 |
| 2014 | Girls | 345 | #808 |
| 2013 | Girls | 251 | #996 |
| 2012 | Girls | 233 | #1,071 |
| 2011 | Girls | 165 | #1,382 |
| 2010 | Girls | 153 | #1,474 |
| 2009 | Girls | 105 | #1,979 |
| 2008 | Girls | 90 | #2,206 |
| 2007 | Girls | 80 | #2,368 |
| 2006 | Girls | 60 | #2,887 |
| 2005 | Girls | 51 | #3,081 |
| 2004 | Girls | 53 | #2,965 |
| 2003 | Girls | 44 | #3,291 |
| 2002 | Girls | 49 | #2,976 |
When Was Penny Most Popular?
Peak years are based on the highest recorded birth totals for this exact spelling and usage category. They are ordered by birth count, not chronologically.
1963 · Girls
5,129 recorded births
National rank #86
1962 · Girls
5,001 recorded births
National rank #92
1961 · Girls
4,638 recorded births
National rank #101
1964 · Girls
4,396 recorded births
National rank #96
Where Penny Ranked Highest in 2025
State rankings are calculated separately for girls and boys within each state. The SSA omits state-level names recorded fewer than five times, so low visible counts can still represent a relatively high state rank.
Top States for Girls
| State | Rank | Recorded Births |
|---|---|---|
| UT | #172 | 26 |
| ID | #221 | 10 |
| OR | #396 | 9 |
| MN | #422 | 12 |
| CO | #456 | 12 |
| AR | #489 | 6 |
| KS | #497 | 6 |
| WI | #518 | 9 |