Given name & surname
Lenny
“having the strength of a lion”·“one who plays the flute”
In French use, Lenny is a diminutive of Leonard. One German interpretation is “having the strength of a lion.” Lenny is an affectionate form of Len. One Native American interpretation is “one who plays the flute.”
Meaning & origin
What it means
In French use, Lenny is a diminutive of Leonard. One German interpretation is “having the strength of a lion.” Lenny is an affectionate form of Len. One Native American interpretation is “one who plays the flute.”
Explained through its name family
Where it comes from
In French use, Lenny is a diminutive of Leonard. Leonard has been associated with Old French and Germanic naming traditions.
Explained through its name family
How it developed
In French usage, Lenny is a diminutive of Leonard.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1914. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin. In French use, Lenny is a diminutive of Leonard. The history of Leonard gives this family its wider story. Use of Leonard was revived during the 19th century.
Combines direct and name-family evidence
Lenny through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 9,035
- 8,299 boys · 736 girls
- Most popular year
- 1960
- 209 babies
- 2025
- 189
- #1,419 for boys · #2,799 for girls
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- +42%
- Rising
Boys, girls and both
The balance of boys and girls given this name has shifted over time. Recent births are 76% boys.
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 128 U.S. birth records for boys, ranking No. 1,419 among boys’ names. Average annual use for boys was 23.4% higher in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for boys was 199 in 1961. It also appeared in 61 birth records for girls in 2025. In 2025, California had the largest reported state-level birth count for boys with this name (18). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 8,511 as a first name in 2020; 206 as a surname in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Lenny’s family of names
In French usage, Lenny is a diminutive of Leonard. Lenny is an affectionate form of Leonard. Lenny has a related form in Leonard.
Inner ring: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Nicknames & forms 5
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Across languages 5
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
See also 2
Names our sources mention alongside this one. They are related in story or meaning, not forms of this name.
People named Lenny
- Lenny KravitzAmerican guitarist and singer (born 1964)
- Lenny BruceAmerican comedian and social critic (1925–1966)
- Lenny WilkensAmerican basketball player and coach (1937–2025)
- Lenny KuhrDutch singer-songwriterborn 1950
- Lenny AbrahamsonIrish film directorborn 1966
- Lenny HenryBritish-Jamaican actor and comedianborn 1958
- LennyBrazilian association football playerborn 1988
- Lenny Von DohlenAmerican actor (1958–2022)
- Lenny JosephHaitian footballerborn 2000
Characters named Lenny: Lenny Leonard (the The Simpsons franchise).
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Lenny, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Elvis
“one who is wise”
>99% boys
Lanny
“from the renowned land”
>99% boys
Gerry
“one who rules with the spear” · “one who is mighty with a spear”
>99% boys
Ted
“a gift from God” · “having heart”
>99% boys
Jan
“God is gracious”
96% boys · 4% girls
Heeny
“God is gracious”
—
Lecea
Lecea is a variant of Lecia. In English use, Lecia carries the interpretation “woman of the nobility; truthful; having high moral character.”
—
Baird
“a minstrel; a poet”
>99% boys