How Many People Are Named Penny?

Complete statistics for the name Penny: rarity score, gender breakdown, age distribution, historical popularity, worldwide data, meaning and origin.

Penny
Rare
Greek

Penny has a classic feel but fits a modern world. About 84,533 people in the U.S. carry this name, making it rare, just 1 in 3,904 Americans. It peaked in 1963 with 5,141 births, showing its enduring charm.

~9,425
Living in US
1 in 35,167
Americans
1963
Peak Year

📖 Meaning & Origin

💬
Meaning
Weaver, variant of Penelope
🌐
Origin
Greek
🌟
Lucky Day
Friday
💎
Lucky Stone
Emerald
🔢
Numerology
Life Path 11
Personality Traits
Warm Cheerful Grounded Friendly
11
Life Path Number

The number 11 is considered a master number in numerology, representing heightened intuition, inspiration, and a deep connection to idealism. People associated with 11 are thought to be visionary and sensitive, often driven by a desire to uplift others.

🌍 Worldwide Usage

84,533
Worldwide Bearers
#4,324
Global Rank
🇵🇭 Philippines
1,503
🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 Scotland
703
🇬🇷 Greece
642
🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 Wales
601
🇳🇱 Netherlands
560
🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia
466
🇿🇼 Zimbabwe
276
🇮🇪 Ireland
271
🇸🇬 Singapore
258
🇵🇱 Poland
236

⚥ Gender Distribution

♂ Male
250 (0%)
♀ Female
84,283 (100%)

📊 Births by Age Group

Avg Cohort Age: 62
5,822
Would be under 30 (6%)
27,088
Would be 30–60 (27%)
67,721
Would be over 60 (67%)

All 100,631 recorded US births for this name, grouped by the age those individuals would be today. Not adjusted for survival, so the number living today is lower (see the living estimate above).

📈 Popularity Over Time

Peak: 1963

Annual US births from SSA records  ·  Trend: Rising

🏆 Name Scorecard

Popularity
99
Classic Feel
68
Modern Appeal
32
International
5

Scores 0–100 based on statistical analysis of US and worldwide name frequency

📜 Penny Through the Generations

Penny's journey through American naming trends is fascinating. With a total of 100,631 births across all time, yet only 84,533 people still living, it's clear that many who were born with this name have passed away. The age split reveals a significant skew towards older generations; 67% of those named Penny are over 60, which is quite telling. This trend, combined with its peak in 1963, paints a picture of a name that was popular during a specific era but has since become more associated with the past. Despite its rarity, Penny continues to see a slight increase in usage, suggesting a revival or at least a steady presence in contemporary naming practices.

📍 State Distribution (Top 10)

California 7,547
Ohio 6,582
Illinois 5,872
Michigan 5,711
New York 5,639
Texas 4,947
Pennsylvania 4,483
Indiana 4,413
North Carolina 3,260
Tennessee 2,827

⭐ Famous People Named Penny

Penny is a feminine given name and nickname, often a short form (hypocorism) of Penelope.…

Full list on Wikipedia →

✨ Similar Names to Penny

🌿 Related Names by Origin

Other names sharing Penny's Greek roots

📄 About the Name Penny

How Many People Have the Name Penny?

Based on Social Security Administration birth records and age-adjusted survival modeling, approximately 9,425 people in the United States currently share the name Penny. That works out to roughly 1 in every 35,167 Americans, placing it in the Rare category.

Is Penny a Common or Rare Name?

Penny is classified as Rare. The rarity scale runs from Very Common (shared by millions) through Common, Uncommon, Rare, and Very Rare. Understanding where a name sits helps parents gauge uniqueness, genealogists narrow down records, and individuals settle debates about their own name's distinctiveness.

What Does the Name Penny Mean?

Penny means "weaver, variant of Penelope" and comes from Greek origins. The name carries a life-path numerology number of 11.

Gender Breakdown

Of all recorded bearers of Penny in SSA data, approximately 0% are male and 100% are female.

When Was Penny Most Popular?

The name Penny reached peak popularity in 1963, with 5,141 babies registered that year. Current trend: Rising.

How Is This Data Calculated?

All figures are statistical estimates, not exact government headcounts. The underlying data comes from the SSA National Baby Names dataset. Full methodology is explained on the methodology page.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

How many people are named Penny?

Approximately 9,425 people named Penny live in the United States today. All-time US births on record total 9,425. That works out to roughly 1 in 35,167 Americans.

Is Penny a rare name?

Penny is classified as Rare in the United States. Approximately 1 in every 35,167 Americans has this name.

What does the name Penny mean?

Penny means "weaver, variant of Penelope" and comes from Greek origins.

Is Penny more male or female?

Based on SSA records, 0% of people named Penny are male and 100% are female.

When was Penny most popular?

Penny peaked in 1963 with 5,141 births that year. Current trend: Rising.

How accurate are these statistics?

All figures are statistical estimates based on SSA birth records and age-adjusted modeling. See the methodology page for full details.

Disclaimer: All results are statistical estimates based on aggregated SSA birth records and modeling. Not exact counts of individuals. Data source: SSA National Baby Names dataset.
Quick Stats
Living in US9,425
All-Time Births9,425
1 in X1 in 35,167
RarityRare
GenderFemale
Avg Age62
Peak Year1963
World Rank#4,324
Male %0%
Female %100%

Check the statistics for any first or last name

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Data Source

Powered by the SSA National Baby Names dataset, birth registrations from 1880 to present.

All counts are statistical estimates. See the methodology page.