Meaning & origin
Where it comes from
Penni is a variant of Penelope. A possible origin is Greek, although the derivation remains uncertain.
Explained through its name family
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1938. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin. Penni is a variant of Penelope. The history of Penelope gives this family its wider story. In mythological stories, Penelope is associated with the faithful wife of Odysseus.
Combines direct and name-family evidence
Penni through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 2,606
- 0 boys · 2,606 girls
- Most popular year
- 1962
- 148 babies
- 2025
- 0
- Outside the ranked list
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- —
- Too few births to compare
By the numbers
The most recent published U.S. birth count for girls is 7 in 2023. Later missing counts do not mean the name went unused. Its largest published annual count for girls was 148 in 1962. Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 2,221 as a first name in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Penni’s family of names
Penni has a related form in Penelope. In Greek usage, Penni as a surname is a transliteration of Πεννή.
Inner ring: spellings · outer: nicknames and forms.
Nicknames & forms 1
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Spellings & scripts 1
The same name written differently, including transliterations into other scripts.
Similar names
If you love Penni, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Penney
Penney is a surname.
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Penny
“duck”
>99% girls
Pennie
Pennie is a surname.
>99% girls
Shonni
>99% girls
Cyndi
Cyndi is a feminine given name.
>99% girls
Dorri
“a gift of God” · “dorian woman”
>99% girls
Bridgitte
>99% girls
Deanda
Deanda is a surname from Spanish, ultimately from Basque.
>99% girls