PENNY

Pronunciation: Commonly pronounced as “PEH-nee.”​​

Popularity: Penny is almost exclusively used for girls (about 99–100% female in U.S. datasets) and peaked in the U.S. during the 1960s, reaching the top 100 in 1963. It has since declined but remains in regular use, ranking around the mid‑700s for U.S. baby girls in recent years and also charting in England, Wales, Scotland, Ireland, and Sweden.

Associated Color: Coppery orange, evoking the color of a penny coin and symbolizing warmth, modest wealth, good luck, and down‑to‑earth charm.

Historical Figures:

• None known

Famous People:

• Penny Marshall (1943–2018) – American actress and director, known for Laverne & Shirley and films like Big.
• ​Penny Johnson Jerald (born 1961) – American actress known for 24, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, and The Orville.
• Penny Lancaster (born 1971) – English model, photographer, and television personality.

Fictional Characters:

• Penny (The Big Bang Theory) – Main female character in the sitcom The Big Bang Theory.
• Penny Proud – Protagonist of the animated series The Proud Family and The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder.
• ​Penny Widmore – Recurring character in the television series Lost.
• ​Penny Morris – Character in the Welsh children’s animated series Fireman Sam.

Nicknames and Diminutives: Pen, Pen-Pen, Neni (informal), Pip (rare), Nell (when from Penelope).
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Variations and Alternates: Penelope, Pennie, Penni, Penney, Pennylane, Penina/Peninna (related in some traditions).