Penny

Meaning: Possibly 'duck'; also interpreted as 'weaver'
Origin: Variant of Penelope (from Ancient Greek)

Girl's name · #740 in the US (2025) · Comeback

Popularity over time

Penny was #86 in 1963, slipped to #3528 by 2001, and has climbed back to #740 today. Roughly 101,000 girls have been named Penny since 1882.

Across the states

In recent years, Penny ran 3–6× its national rate in Utah and Idaho.

Appears in 2020-2025 birth records of 31 states. See the full state-by-state map on this page.

Around the world

See how Penny ranks in other countries and regions.

#116 in N. Ireland (2025) · #159 in Ireland (2025) · #169 in Scotland (2025) · #188 in Sweden (2025) · #233 in England & Wales (2025) · #702 in Canada (2024).

Famous Pennys

Penny Marshall — American actress, director and producer (1943–2018)
Penny Mordaunt — British politician (born 1973)
Penny Johnson Jerald — American actress
Penny Oleksiak — Canadian swimmer (born 2000)
Penny Pritzker — American billionaire businesswoman (born 1959)

In stories & tradition

Penny — The Big Bang Theory (TV series)
Penny Widmore — Lost (TV series)
Penny Halliwell — Charmed (comics)

What Pennys become

Among 362 notable people named Penny:

Entertainers appear 1.46× more often than among typical names — e.g. Penny Marshall, American actress, director and producer (1943–2018).

Similar names: Margo · Pepper · Renee · Joni · Angie · Dorothy

Browse more girl names — popularity, trends and eras for 5,700+ American names, free.

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