Baby Name Popularity Profile

Penny

Data-driven SSA statistics, rankings, and historical trends for Penny.

✦ Coin or weaver 🌍 English, Greek traditional
National Rank (2025) #740
All-Time Peak Rank #86 Achieved 1963
Total U.S. Births 100,619 since 1880
Unisex Distribution 0.0% Boy / 100.0% Girl Female Archetype
First Recorded 1882 Last seen: 2025
Peak Decade 1960s 5,129 births in 1963
💡 The Penny Vibe: Considered a Modern Trend. A contemporary choice reflecting current cultural naming rhythms and popularity brackets.

🌍 Meaning & Etymology

Primary Meaning Coin or weaver
Language Origin English, Greek
Origin Type multiple
Derived from the English word for the coin, or as a diminutive of Penelope, a Greek name meaning 'weaver'.
Common Nicknames
Pen
Alternative Spellings
Pennie
Pronunciation: PEN-ee
Themes & Categories
traditional
Etymology confidence: High

📖 The Story Behind Penny

According to SSA data, Penny achieved its highest historical rank of #86 in 1963. Its highest annual registration volume occurred in 1963 with 5,129 babies. Between 2015 and 2025, modern registrations have decreased by 1.1%. Overall, the name has maintained a ranked presence for 122 consecutive years.

📊 Factual Timeline & Current Trajectory (1880 – 2025)

Registration footprint of Penny across 145 years of SSA data.

5-Year Trajectory Stable
10-Year Shift -1.1% Decline
18801920196020002025

📈 Popularity Milestones & Volatility

Busiest Year on Record 5,129 births in 1963
Years in Top 100 4 yrs
Years in Top 500 44 yrs
Registry Streak 122 yrs
Historical Volatility Highly Volatile
Largest 1-Year Jump N/A
Decade-by-Decade Registration Volumes
1880s: 11
1890s: 29
1900s: 50
1910s: 146
1920s: 467
1930s: 1,128
1940s: 13,113
1950s: 25,123
1960s: 38,220
1970s: 12,578
1980s: 2,951
1990s: 783
2000s: 623
2010s: 3,024
2020s: 2,373

📐 Sound & Spelling Structure

Phonetic Syllables Pe-nny
Letter Count 5 letters
Spelling Complexity Moderate
Length Percentile Longer than 7.7% of names
Linguistic Profile: Longer than 7.7% of SSA names. Starts with P, a letter used by only 1.6% of SSA names.

🛠️ Sibling & Surname Cadence Tool

Enter a surname or sibling name to test how it pairs with Penny.

📍 Authentic State & Regional Rankings

Highest Ranking State Vermont
Top States Vermont, Montana, Indiana, Wyoming, Idaho
States with Data 51
State 2025 Rank Total Births Peak Year 5-Yr Velocity
Vermont Unranked 441 1965 Insufficient historical volume
Montana Unranked 615 1952 Insufficient historical volume
Indiana #640 4,422 1961 Insufficient historical volume
Wyoming Unranked 236 1963 Insufficient historical volume
Idaho #234 679 1962 Insufficient historical volume
Maine Unranked 698 1963 Insufficient historical volume
Iowa Unranked 2,022 1962 Insufficient historical volume
Michigan #678 5,723 1963 Insufficient historical volume
Utah #178 1,216 1959 7.1% Decline
West Virginia Unranked 1,374 1961 Insufficient historical volume
Ohio #706 6,596 1962 Insufficient historical volume
Oregon #423 1,264 1947 Insufficient historical volume
South Dakota Unranked 467 1962 Insufficient historical volume
Wisconsin #556 2,699 1963 Insufficient historical volume
Tennessee #640 2,839 1964 Insufficient historical volume
Washington #883 2,074 1947 Insufficient historical volume
North Dakota Unranked 437 1963 Insufficient historical volume
Kentucky #642 2,225 1963 Insufficient historical volume
Kansas #558 1,340 1960 Insufficient historical volume
Louisiana Unranked 2,220 1963 Insufficient historical volume
Illinois #991 5,882 1962 Insufficient historical volume
North Carolina #889 3,272 1963 Insufficient historical volume
Nebraska Unranked 825 1962 Insufficient historical volume
Missouri #1047 2,471 1963 Insufficient historical volume
New Hampshire Unranked 346 1960 Insufficient historical volume
Minnesota #452 1,944 1960 Insufficient historical volume
Colorado #487 1,187 1962 Insufficient historical volume
Virginia #1147 2,208 1963 Insufficient historical volume
Oklahoma Unranked 1,245 1962 Insufficient historical volume
Mississippi Unranked 1,133 1965 Insufficient historical volume
Arkansas #543 949 1962 Insufficient historical volume
Georgia #970 2,406 1964 Insufficient historical volume
Pennsylvania #993 4,492 1962 Insufficient historical volume
Maryland #640 1,152 1963 Insufficient historical volume
California #853 7,582 1961 36.4% Decline
Delaware Unranked 153 1961 Insufficient historical volume
New York #1017 5,654 1962 Insufficient historical volume
Florida #857 2,340 1962 Insufficient historical volume
Hawaii Unranked 209 1949 Insufficient historical volume
Alabama #800 1,221 1962 Insufficient historical volume
Arizona #622 807 1963 Insufficient historical volume
Texas #1214 4,969 1963 38.9% Decline
District of Columbia Unranked 291 1963 Insufficient historical volume
New Mexico Unranked 320 1962 Insufficient historical volume
South Carolina Unranked 844 1963 Insufficient historical volume
Connecticut Unranked 630 1962 Insufficient historical volume
New Jersey Unranked 1,352 1962 Insufficient historical volume
Massachusetts #737 1,035 1964 Insufficient historical volume
Alaska Unranked 57 1959 Insufficient historical volume
Nevada Unranked 125 1956 Insufficient historical volume
Rhode Island Unranked 94 1959 Insufficient historical volume

👨‍👩‍👧 Sibling Name Suggestions

👦 Brother Suggestions
Rudy Tony Chris Kevin Byron Kenny Lenny Barry Monty Kelly
👧 Sister Suggestions
Robin Karla Lara Laura Greta Darla Carla Renee Wendy Robyn

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