Penni
Penni was not among the names given to 5 or more girls in 2025. Its best year was 1964, when it ranked 860th; the most babies were born in 1962 (148). More babies were named Penni in the 1960s than in any other decade.
Meaning (as Penny) pet form of Penelope (origin uncertain) · Greek, English
- Rank in 2025
- Not rankedgirls
- Babies in 2025
- 0girls
- Girls and boys
- Almost always a girl’s name2021–2025
- Peak year
- 1962148 babies
- Total since 1880
- 2,606babies recorded
What does the name Penni mean?
Penni is a spelling of Penny, pronounced the same way, so it shares Penny's meaning and origin.
Penny is a pet form of Penelope, according to Wiktionary. Penelope is the faithful wife of Odysseus in Homer's Odyssey. DMNES calls the Greek name of uncertain origin but perhaps related to pēnelops, a kind of duck. The English coin word penny is unrelated. Penny has been used in the US since the 1880s and was most common in the early 1960s.
Πηνελόπη (Ancient Greek, “Penelope (uncertain; perhaps 'duck')”)
How sure is this? Uncertain. DMNES: Penelope of uncertain origin, perhaps 'duck'.
Related names: Penelope, Pen, Nell, Poppy.
See also: Greek names.
Sources for this meaning
- Wiktionary, entry 'Penny' (English section), Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0; facts restated, no text reused)
- Dictionary of Medieval Names from European Sources, ed. S. L. Uckelman, Edition 2023 no. 1, s.v. 'Penelope', DMNES (Durham University)
- US Social Security Administration, national baby-name data 1880-2025 (yob*.txt), team3 computation of first year recorded, US Social Security Administration (public domain)
Penni popularity since 1880
| Year | Rank (girls) | Babies (girls) |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | — | — |
| 2020 | #13,135 | 7 |
| 2010 | — | — |
| 2000 | — | — |
| 1990 | #14,582 | 5 |
| 1980 | #4,679 | 16 |
| 1970 | #1,341 | 79 |
| 1960 | #969 | 122 |
| 1950 | #1,568 | 36 |
| 1940 | #4,240 | 6 |
| 1930 | — | — |
| 1920 | — | — |
| 1910 | — | — |
| 1900 | — | — |
| 1890 | — | — |
| 1880 | — | — |
How popular is Penni, counting every spelling?
Penni is a spelling of Penny, a name family that ranked #733 for girls in 2025 once every spelling is counted together. Together these spellings went to 383 girls in 2025.
Spellings count together when they sound the same in American English and are used for the same sex; nicknames and forms that sound different (such as Theo and Theodore) are kept apart. How we group spellings.
How old are people named Penni?
About 2,200 people born in the US named Penni are alive today, with a median age of 62; half are between 56 and 67. That makes Penni a name most people associate with older generations.
Babies given the name each year (SSA) times the share of that birth year still alive (SSA life tables). Counts people born in the US only. Method.
Penni by state
How common Penni was among girls born in each state in 1960–1964, around its peak. In 36 states fewer than five girls a year got the name, too few for SSA to publish, so those states show as zero.
Names with a similar history
These names rose and fell in step with Penni: their share of US girls followed the most similar curve since 1880. If you like Penni, they share its era and feel.
Questions about the name Penni
What does Penni mean?
Penni is a spelling of Penny, usually explained as “pet form of Penelope (origin uncertain)”, but this is uncertain. Certainty: uncertain.
How popular is the name Penni?
Penni was not among the names given to 5 or more girls in 2025. Its best year was 1964, when it ranked 860th; the most babies were born in 1962 (148). More babies were named Penni in the 1960s than in any other decade.
Is Penni a boy or girl name?
In 2021–2025, almost always a girl’s name given the name Penni in the US.
Where was Penni most popular?
In 1960–1964, Penni was most common in Ohio (0.10 per 1,000 girls), followed by Michigan and Colorado.