Baby Names US
girls' name ★ peaked 1962

Penney

Gender Girl Rank 2025 Below top lists
Rank 2025
–
among girls
Babies in 2025
<5
named Penney
How common
–
girls born in 2025
Peak year
1962
113 babies
All-time total
1,951
#4,776 all-time among girls
First recorded
1925
in Social Security records

Penney popularity over time

1,951 babies have been named Penney since 1925, according to official Social Security records. Switch measure to see births per year or the yearly rank.

Measure
Births per 1,000 babies of that sex, comparable across eras
0.020.040.060.0818801900192019401960198020002020Peak 1962Girls

By decade. Change compares yearly averages, so the current partial decade is on equal footing. Best rank is the name's best yearly rank within the decade.

Decade Girls Per year Change Best rank
1880s – – – –
1890s – – – –
1900s – – – –
1910s – – – –
1920s 5 1 – #5,605
1930s 5 1 0% #4,786
1940s 249 25 +4880% #1,480
1950s 540 54 +117% #1,210
1960s 746 75 +38% #1,013
1970s 312 31 -58% #1,761
1980s 67 7 -79% #4,880
1990s – – – –
2000s – – – –
2010s 27 3 – #11,401
2020s (to 2025) – – – –

The story of Penney

Penney is not currently in use for newborns in the United States: fewer than five babies received the name in 2025. Its story lives in the historical record below.

Since 1925, 1,951 American babies have been named Penney. Its peak came in 1962, when 113 newborns received the name, the signature sound of the 1960s.

The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Penney stood among all girls' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.

How old are people named Penney?

The median living Penney is about 63 years old; half are between 56 and 69. An estimated 1,700 people named Penney are alive in the United States today.

median 63 020406080100

Estimated from births per year and Social Security period life tables; an approximation of the living age distribution, by age in years.

Penney year by year

Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.

Year Girls Girls rank
2025 – –
2024 – –
2023 – –
2022 – –
2021 – –
2020 – –
2019 – –
2018 5 #17,550
2017 9 #11,401
2016 – –
2015 – –
2014 8 #12,796
2013 – –
2012 5 #18,885
2011 – –
2010 – –
2009 – –
2008 – –
2007 – –
2006 – –
2005 – –
2004 – –
2003 – –
2002 – –
2001 – –
2000 – –
1995 – –
1990 – –
1985 8 #8,096
1980 14 #5,156
1975 27 #2,788
1970 39 #2,108
1965 67 #1,344
1960 91 #1,145
1955 49 #1,458
1950 36 #1,567
1945 17 #2,136
1940 9 #3,159
1935 – –
1930 – –
1925 5 #5,605
1920 – –
1915 – –
1910 – –
1905 – –
1900 – –
1895 – –
1890 – –
1885 – –
1880 – –

Frequently asked questions

Quick answers about Penney, drawn from the same Social Security data as the charts above.

How old is the average Penney?

The median living Penney is about 63 years old. Half of all living Penneys are between 56 and 69 years old.

How many people named Penney are alive today?

An estimated 1,700 people named Penney are alive in the United States, based on 1,951 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

How popular is the name Penney in 2025?

Penney did not appear in the 2025 Social Security data, which means fewer than five babies received the name that year.

How many people are named Penney?

1,951 babies have been named Penney in the United States since 1925, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Penney most popular?

Penney peaked in 1962, when 113 newborns received the name.

Is Penney a boy or girl name?

Penney is overwhelmingly a girl's name: 100% of babies with the name.

Is the name Penney rising or falling?

Penney is declining, less popular now than a decade ago.

Names like Penney

Names that sound and feel close to Penney: shared sounds, similar era, similar popularity. Each links to its full history.

Compare Penney with similar names → More names starting with P →