Meaning & Origin
A diminutive of the female given name Penelope.
Penny is a girl's and boy's baby name of Greek origin, a diminutive of Penelope, from the Greek Penelopeia — possibly meaning 'weaver' or related to the Greek word for a type of duck, penelops. In Homer's Odyssey, Penelope is Odysseus's faithful wife, famous for her patience and cunning.
Penny has the rare quality of feeling simultaneously old-fashioned and completely fresh. It was popular in the mid-20th century, then faded, and has been quietly climbing back in recent years. Penny from The Big Bang Theory introduced it to a new audience — smart, funny, and genuinely likable. A vintage nickname-name with real mythological roots.