Penny
Meaning
nickname-style diminutive of Penelope, traditionally associated with 'weaver'
The formal names behind Penny
Penny is an established short form of this name.
Penelope · Greek origin · traditionally "weaver," after the wife in the Odyssey who unwove her loom each night to hold off suitors, though the root may be an old word for a duck; four syllables of loyal, literary charm that clip to Penny and Poppy
Popularity, 1890–2024
Shape drawn from US Social Security baby-name records. Penny peaked in the 1960s.
When you meet Penny
Most people given the name Penny in the United States were born between 1950 and 1979. The Penny you meet today is most often in her 50s or 60s.
Estimated from US Social Security birth registrations and typical lifespans; a rough guide, not a rule.
The Penny deep dive
Whether you’re naming a baby or exploring your own name’s history, this is a personal letter, not a list: where Penny truly comes from, how it traveled, and what a century of records reveals. If you have grown a tree on nametree, it also considers how Penny fits with your family’s names and surname.
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