Penny
PE-nee
Penny is a pet form of Penelope, from the Greek Pēnelopē, whose meaning is uncertain but may derive from pēnēlops, a type of duck, or from pēne (“weft of the loom”) and ōlops (“face”).
The weaving association is reinforced by the mythological Penelope, who famously unraveled and rewove her tapestry to delay her suitors.
In Homer’s Odyssey, Penelope is the faithful wife of Odysseus, whose 20-year wait and clever deception while he was away at Troy and then wandering made her one of literature’s enduring symbols of loyalty and intelligence.
What the name Penny means
Penny peaked at No. 86 in 1963 with 5,127 births. In 2024 it ranks No. 747 with 376 births, quietly rising as a vintage name on its way back.
The sitcom The Big Bang Theory (2007-2019) featured a main character named Penny (later revealed as Penny Hofstadter), played by Kaley Cuoco. Her warm, grounded character kept the name in weekly prime-time consciousness for over a decade.
Two syllables—PEN-ee—are bright and cheerful. The name shares the affectionate -ny ending with Bonnie, Ronnie, and Connie, all of which carry a similar warm, mid-century American flavor.
Parents naming daughters Penny today often see it as a perfect vintage-revival name: the warmth of the 1960s nickname without the weight of the full Penelope, though Penelope is also surging.
Related names include Penelope (the classical full form), Penn (unisex short form), and Pen—though Penny has long since escaped the status of nickname to stand as a name in its own right.
US popularity over time
Numerology and symbolism
Based on Pythagorean numerology — a traditional system linking name letters to numbers. Presented for cultural interest.
Famous people named Penny
Penny - similar names
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