Penny
A diminutive of the female given name Penelope.
Every Penny since 1882 — 101,003 of them. Popularity, births, and rankings for each year, from official Social Security records.
The story of Penny
Penny is uncommon for girls in the United States, ranked #740 in 2025 with 368 babies given the name. It is currently rising compared with a decade ago.
Since 1882, 101,003 American babies have been named Penny. Its peak came in 1963, when 5,143 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 Penny stood among all girls' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.
Penny year by year
Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.
| Year | Girls | Girls rank | Boys | Boys rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 368 | #740 | — | — |
| 2024 | 377 | #748 | — | — |
| 2023 | 434 | #676 | — | — |
| 2022 | 402 | #728 | — | — |
| 2021 | 409 | #707 | — | — |
| 2020 | 383 | #727 | — | — |
| 2019 | 362 | #770 | — | — |
| 2018 | 363 | #752 | — | — |
| 2017 | 361 | #769 | — | — |
| 2016 | 419 | #693 | — | — |
| 2015 | 372 | #759 | — | — |
| 2014 | 345 | #809 | — | — |
| 2013 | 251 | #997 | — | — |
| 2012 | 233 | #1,074 | — | — |
| 2011 | 165 | #1,391 | — | — |
| 2010 | 153 | #1,478 | — | — |
| 2009 | 105 | #1,987 | — | — |
| 2008 | 90 | #2,216 | — | — |
| 2007 | 80 | #2,385 | — | — |
| 2006 | 60 | #2,908 | — | — |
| 2005 | 51 | #3,116 | — | — |
| 2004 | 53 | #2,988 | — | — |
| 2003 | 44 | #3,332 | — | — |
| 2002 | 49 | #3,003 | — | — |
| 2001 | 38 | #3,528 | — | — |
| 2000 | 53 | #2,769 | — | — |
| 1995 | 64 | #2,118 | — | — |
| 1990 | 121 | #1,332 | — | — |
| 1985 | 270 | #671 | — | — |
| 1980 | 555 | #407 | — | — |
| 1975 | 1,027 | #235 | — | — |
| 1970 | 2,145 | #157 | 13 | #2,706 |
| 1965 | 3,898 | #97 | 11 | #2,582 |
| 1960 | 4,302 | #113 | 13 | #2,400 |
| 1955 | 2,213 | #161 | 6 | #3,785 |
| 1950 | 1,751 | #161 | — | — |
| 1945 | 1,131 | #183 | — | — |
| 1940 | 493 | #282 | 9 | #2,627 |
| 1935 | 74 | #790 | — | — |
| 1930 | 30 | #1,426 | — | — |
| 1925 | 69 | #893 | — | — |
| 1920 | 26 | #1,655 | 5 | #4,809 |
| 1915 | 13 | #2,357 | 5 | #4,262 |
| 1910 | 7 | #2,095 | — | — |
| 1905 | 8 | #1,509 | — | — |
| 1900 | 5 | #2,164 | — | — |
| 1895 | — | — | — | — |
| 1890 | 6 | #1,313 | — | — |
| 1885 | — | — | — | — |
| 1880 | — | — | — | — |
Famous people named Penny
- Penny Marshall Actor · 1943–2018
- Penny Johnson Jerald Actor · b. 1961
- Penny Hardaway Basketball player · b. 1971
- Penny Pax Pornographic actor · b. 1989
- Penny Pritzker Politician · b. 1959
Ranked by global fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Penny mean?
A diminutive of the female given name Penelope.
How popular is the name Penny in 2025?
Penny ranked #740 among girls' names in the United States in 2025, with 368 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
How many people are named Penny?
101,003 babies have been named Penny in the United States since 1882, based on Social Security card applications.
When was the name Penny most popular?
Penny peaked in 1963, when 5,143 newborns received the name.
Is Penny a boy or girl name?
Penny is overwhelmingly a girl's name — 100% of babies with the name.
Is the name Penny rising or falling?
Penny is on the rise — noticeably more popular now than a decade ago.
Who are famous people named Penny?
Well-known people named Penny include Penny Marshall (actor), Penny Johnson Jerald (actor), Penny Hardaway (basketball player).