The name Penny is of English origin and it means "one penny." It comes from the word "penny," which was used to refer to a small silver coin worth one penny in British currency during the Middle Ages. The name Penny has been popular for girls in English-speaking countries since the late 19th century, but it wasn't until the mid-20th century that it became particularly fashionable. Today, Penny is still a commonly used name for girls and it's often associated with its short form, "Pen.
Here are some fascinating statistics about the name Penny:
Over time, the popularity of the name Penny has fluctuated significantly in the United States. Between 1882 and 2023, there have been a total of 99,867 births recorded with this unique name.
During the early years, Penny's popularity was relatively low. In the late 1800s to early 1900s, fewer than 10 babies were named Penny each year. However, around the turn of the century, we start seeing a slight increase in its usage, with between 5 and 9 births per year.
The biggest surge in popularity occurred during World War II and post-war years. Between 1942 and 1946, there were over 700 babies named Penny each year. This trend continued into the 1950s and 1960s, with over a thousand births per year on average.
Interestingly, despite the decline in popularity of the name since its peak in the mid-20th century, it has shown signs of renewed interest in recent years. Between 2017 and 2023, there were over 400 babies named Penny each year.
These statistics show that while Penny may not have maintained consistently high popularity throughout history, it has had periods of significant appeal and remains a relevant name choice today.