Penny

#740 for girls in 2025, 368 births · Last seen for boys in 1974 at #4,190
Given to girls 99.6% of the time

Showing
Show data for
Peak · girls
1963 · 5,129 births
Debut · girls
5 births
In top 100 · girls
4 yrs
of 146 years
Total births · girls
100,619
since 1882

Penny over time

girls

Rank among girls' names. Click any year to open it.

#1#10#100#1,000rank188019001920194019601980200020201937peak #86, 1963girls
Hover or use arrow keys to read values by year; click or press Enter to open that year.

Gaps mean fewer than 5 babies received the name that year, so the SSA doesn't publish it.

Show data table
Yeargirlsboys
rankbirthsrankbirths
2025#740368—
2024#747377—
2023#676434—
2022#726402—
2021#704409—
2020#725383—
2019#768362—
2018#751363—
2017#768361—
2016#692419—
2015#757372—
2014#808345—
2013#996251—
2012#1,071233—
2011#1,382165—
2010#1,474153—
2009#1,979105—
2008#2,20690—
2007#2,36880—
2006#2,88760—
2005#3,08151—
2004#2,96553—
2003#3,29144—
2002#2,97649—
2001#3,48638—
2000#2,74053—
1999#2,61054—
1998#2,39858—
1997#2,17463—
1996#2,17762—
1995#2,10164—
1994#1,79880—
1993#1,69488—
1992#1,66191—
1991#1,517102—
1990#1,330121—
1989#1,067158—
1988#1,053151—
1987#947171—
1986#800210—
1985#670270—
1984#632280—
1983#602295—
1982#522379—
1981#445482—
1980#407555—
1979#339697—
1978#311750—
1977#279856—
1976#268870—
1975#2351,027—
1974#2191,174#4,1907
1973#1841,471#3,01311
1972#1801,587#3,6228
1971#1582,001#2,68613
1970#1572,145#2,62113
1969#1422,360#2,86110
1968#1242,576#2,57611
1967#1192,811#2,24213
1966#1123,109#2,9868
1965#973,898#2,47611
1964#964,396#2,04016
1963#865,129#2,20014
1962#925,001#1,54626
1961#1014,638#2,70610
1960#1134,302#2,31513
1959#1223,756#2,8219
1958#1243,556#2,26513
1957#1383,044#3,0248
1956#1582,348#2,9698
1955#1612,213#3,5056
1954#1632,134#2,9428
1953#1572,153#2,18613
1952#1572,091#2,51410
1951#1532,077#2,24612
1950#1611,751—
1949#1581,846#3,0197
1948#1531,861—
1947#1422,101#2,49810
1946#1631,645#2,14312
1945#1831,131—
1944#1801,204#3,4305
1943#1841,203#2,9647
1942#205992#2,5239
1941#254637#3,5055
1940#282493#2,4789
1939#317380#2,8297
1938#439234#3,5345
1937#510165#3,5185
1936#660100#3,1476
1935#78574—
1934#96651—
1933#1,10240—
1932#1,56824—
1931#1,33630—
1930#1,40330—
1929#1,21238—
1928#1,05151—
1927#1,10847#4,2105
1926#1,03252—
1925#89069—
1924#1,08652—
1923#88968—
1922#1,50830—
1921#1,37434—
1920#1,62626#4,2865
1919#1,36932—
1918#1,80521#3,7286
1917#2,20415—
1916#1,73920#3,8975
1915#2,25513#3,8255
1914#1,89613—
1913#1,88311—
1912#1,9819—
1911#2,4635—
1910#1,9357—
1909#2,2085—
1908#1,6767—
1907#1,8216—
1906#1,9515—
1905#1,4208—
1904#1,4867—
1903——
1902——
1901#1,3397—
1900#1,9325—
1899#1,5965—
1898#1,3797—
1897#1,5555—
1896——
1895——
1894——
1893——
1892#1,2786—
1891——
1890#1,2106—
1889——
1888#1,1366—
1887——
1886——
1885——
1884——
1883——
1882#9085—
1881——
1880——
First appearance
1882

The first year at least five girls were named Penny! It came in at #908, and was given to 5 baby girls.


Quietest stretch: 1882–1887, when fewer than 6 girls a year got the name.

Where Penny is popular in 1937

  • Rank in state
  • Top 10
  • 11–50
  • 51–100
  • 101–500
  • 501+
  • Not published
Alaska: fewer than 5 girls named Penny, so not publishedAKMaine: fewer than 5 girls named Penny, so not publishedMEVermont: fewer than 5 girls named Penny, so not publishedVTNew Hampshire: fewer than 5 girls named Penny, so not publishedNHWashington: fewer than 5 girls named Penny, so not publishedWAIdaho: fewer than 5 girls named Penny, so not publishedIDMontana: fewer than 5 girls named Penny, so not publishedMTNorth Dakota: fewer than 5 girls named Penny, so not publishedNDMinnesota: fewer than 5 girls named Penny, so not publishedMNIllinois: #358 for girls · 13 births · 1 in 3,995 girlsILWisconsin: #297 for girls · 6 births · 1 in 3,852 girlsWIMichigan: #476 for girls · 5 births · 1 in 7,974 girlsMINew York: #494 for girls · 10 births · 1 in 8,354 girlsNYMassachusetts: fewer than 5 girls named Penny, so not publishedMARhode Island: fewer than 5 girls named Penny, so not publishedRIOregon: #175 for girls · 6 births · 1 in 1,004 girlsORNevada: fewer than 5 girls named Penny, so not publishedNVWyoming: fewer than 5 girls named Penny, so not publishedWYSouth Dakota: fewer than 5 girls named Penny, so not publishedSDIowa: #341 for girls · 5 births · 1 in 3,649 girlsIAIndiana: #389 for girls · 5 births · 1 in 4,800 girlsINOhio: #339 for girls · 12 births · 1 in 4,045 girlsOHPennsylvania: #360 for girls · 15 births · 1 in 4,772 girlsPANew Jersey: fewer than 5 girls named Penny, so not publishedNJConnecticut: fewer than 5 girls named Penny, so not publishedCTCalifornia: #301 for girls · 17 births · 1 in 2,388 girlsCAUtah: fewer than 5 girls named Penny, so not publishedUTColorado: fewer than 5 girls named Penny, so not publishedCONebraska: fewer than 5 girls named Penny, so not publishedNEMissouri: fewer than 5 girls named Penny, so not publishedMOKentucky: fewer than 5 girls named Penny, so not publishedKYWest Virginia: fewer than 5 girls named Penny, so not publishedWVVirginia: fewer than 5 girls named Penny, so not publishedVAMaryland: fewer than 5 girls named Penny, so not publishedMDDelaware: fewer than 5 girls named Penny, so not publishedDEArizona: fewer than 5 girls named Penny, so not publishedAZNew Mexico: fewer than 5 girls named Penny, so not publishedNMKansas: fewer than 5 girls named Penny, so not publishedKSArkansas: fewer than 5 girls named Penny, so not publishedARTennessee: fewer than 5 girls named Penny, so not publishedTNNorth Carolina: #516 for girls · 5 births · 1 in 7,303 girlsNCSouth Carolina: fewer than 5 girls named Penny, so not publishedSCDistrict of Columbia: fewer than 5 girls named Penny, so not publishedDCOklahoma: fewer than 5 girls named Penny, so not publishedOKLouisiana: fewer than 5 girls named Penny, so not publishedLAMississippi: fewer than 5 girls named Penny, so not publishedMSAlabama: fewer than 5 girls named Penny, so not publishedALGeorgia: fewer than 5 girls named Penny, so not publishedGAHawaii: fewer than 5 girls named Penny, so not publishedHITexas: #802 for girls · 6 births · 1 in 9,312 girlsTXFlorida: fewer than 5 girls named Penny, so not publishedFL

Hover or tap a state for its numbers.

Top states · girls
  1. Oregon#175 · 1 in 1,004
  2. Wisconsin#297 · 1 in 3,852
  3. California#301 · 1 in 2,388
  4. Ohio#339 · 1 in 4,045
  5. Iowa#341 · 1 in 3,649

Best ever in a state: #15 in Vermont, 1965.

Show every state
StateRankBirthsShare
Oregon#17561 in 1,004
Wisconsin#29761 in 3,852
California#301171 in 2,388
Ohio#339121 in 4,045
Iowa#34151 in 3,649
Illinois#358131 in 3,995
Pennsylvania#360151 in 4,772
Indiana#38951 in 4,800
Michigan#47651 in 7,974
New York#494101 in 8,354
North Carolina#51651 in 7,303
Texas#80261 in 9,312
Alabama———
Alaska———
Arizona———
Arkansas———
Colorado———
Connecticut———
Delaware———
District of Columbia———
Florida———
Georgia———
Hawaii———
Idaho———
Kansas———
Kentucky———
Louisiana———
Maine———
Maryland———
Massachusetts———
Minnesota———
Mississippi———
Missouri———
Montana———
Nebraska———
Nevada———
New Hampshire———
New Jersey———
New Mexico———
North Dakota———
Oklahoma———
Rhode Island———
South Carolina———
South Dakota———
Tennessee———
Utah———
Vermont———
Virginia———
Washington———
West Virginia———
Wyoming———

Ranks are within each state; “1 in N” is out of the girls born there that year. The SSA only publishes a name in a state when 5 or more babies of one sex got it.

See more about Penny
Momentum · girls
Holding steady
  • 7 spots since 2024 (#747 → #740)
  • 15 spots since 2020 (#725 → #740)
  • 17 spots since 2015 (#757 → #740)
  • Biggest jump: 619 spots in 1923 (#1,508 → #889)
  • Biggest drop: 197 spots in 1924 (#889 → #1,086)
Rise & fade · girls
81 yrs to peak
  • Debuted 1882
  • Peaked 1963 at #86 (5,129 births)
  • Births halved by 1969, 6 yrs later
Top of the charts · girls
Top 100 for 4 yrs
  • Top 10: never
  • Top 100: 4 yrs · run 1962–1965
  • Top 1,000: 70 yrs · run 1934–1987
Share of babies · girls
1 in 376
  • Highest: 1 in 376 girls born in 1963 were named Penny (0.27%)
  • Latest: 1 in 4,368 girls born in 2025 (0.02%)
Era · girls
The 1960s
  • 38.0% of all girls named Penny (38,220) were born in this decade
Show by decade
DecadeBirthsBest rankAvg rank
1880s11#908 (1882)#1,022
1890s29#1,210 (1890)#1,404
1900s50#1,339 (1901)#1,729
1910s146#1,369 (1919)#1,953
1920s467#889 (1923)#1,178
1930s1,128#317 (1939)#909
1940s13,113#142 (1947)#190
1950s25,123#122 (1959)#149
1960s38,220#86 (1963)#108
1970s12,578#157 (1970)#233
1980s2,951#407 (1980)#715
1990s783#1,330 (1990)#1,946
2000s623#1,979 (2009)#2,798
2010s3,024#692 (2016)#947
2020s2,373#676 (2023)#720

All figures count published births only (names given to at least 5 girls in a year). Registrations before 1937 are incomplete, so early shares and totals run low.

Penny in 1937

girls
#510
165 births · 1 in 6,449 girls
boys
#3,518
5 births · 1 in 213,332 boys

Top girls' names in 1937

  1. #1Mary55,641
  2. #2Barbara34,917
  3. #3Patricia26,838
  4. #4Shirley26,823
  5. #5Betty25,337
  6. #6Carol17,336
  7. #7Nancy17,074
  8. #8Dorothy16,572
  9. #9Joan15,301
  10. #10Margaret15,144
  11. #510Penny165

Top boys' names in 1937

  1. #1Robert61,842
  2. #2James56,561
  3. #3John48,755
  4. #4William40,725
  5. #5Richard32,975
  6. #6Charles30,520
  7. #7Donald27,868
  8. #8David20,981
  9. #9Thomas19,772
  10. #10George18,439
  11. #3,518Penny5
More about 1937

girls

1,064,033 girls got a published name in 1937; 1 in 6,449 of them was named Penny, which outranked 89.7% of the 4,930 girls' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 23.6% of girls (24.6% in 1880, 7.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Penny
  1. #507Clare168
  2. #507Matilda168
  3. #509Theodora167
  4. #510Penny165
  5. #510Callie165
  6. #510Ester165
  7. #510Madelyn165
  8. #514William164
  9. #515Aline163
  10. #516Belva162

Tied names share a rank, as in SSA's lists.

Biggest movers since 1936
Risers
  1. ↑ 3,217Noreta#4,181 → #964
  2. ↑ 2,845Noretta#3,701 → #856
  3. ↑ 2,351Leilani#3,103 → #752
  4. ↑ 1,407Deann#2,263 → #856
  5. ↑ 1,209Norita#1,741 → #532
Fallers
  1. ↓ 438Dorla#951 → #1,389
  2. ↓ 331Vilma#951 → #1,282
  3. ↓ 303Imelda#979 → #1,282
  4. ↓ 297Lulu#695 → #992
  5. ↓ 292Lyda#840 → #1,132

Among names in the top 1,000 of either year.

boys

1,066,659 boys got a published name in 1937; 1 in 213,332 of them was named Penny, which outranked 12.5% of the 4,020 boys' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 33.6% of boys (44.2% in 1880, 8.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Penny
  1. #3,175Worthy6
  2. #3,175Zachariah6
  3. #3,175Zenith6
  4. #3,518Penny5
  5. #3,518Abdul5
  6. #3,518Abron5
  7. #3,518Achilles5

Tied with 502 names at #3,518; 3 shown. Tied names share a rank, as in SSA's lists.

Biggest movers since 1936
Risers
  1. ↑ 1,923Tyrone#2,629 → #706
  2. ↑ 558Lamont#1,540 → #982
  3. ↑ 540Lary#1,540 → #1,000
  4. ↑ 416Errol#906 → #490
  5. ↑ 399Levon#1,356 → #957
Fallers
  1. ↓ 492Gaston#989 → #1,481
  2. ↓ 461Gorden#827 → #1,288
  3. ↓ 432Sergio#940 → #1,372
  4. ↓ 371Landon#422 → #793
  5. ↓ 347Harlen#747 → #1,094

Among names in the top 1,000 of either year.

See the top 100 for 1937 →