Danny
Danny is a boy's name of Hebrew origin.
Meaning
God is my judge.
Origin and history
Danny originated as a diminutival short form of Daniel, which derives from the Hebrew name Daniyyel meaning 'God is my judge'. Historically used as a nickname, it became widely established as an independent given name in the United States during the mid-20th century. Though its usage has moderated from its mid-century peak, it remains a familiar American standard.
Popularity in the United States
286,648 babies in the United States have been named Danny since 1880. It ranks #132 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #585.
States where it is most popular
- CA (11.5 %)
- TX (9.1 %)
- OH (4.7 %)
- NC (4.5 %)
- TN (4.4 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 0 |
| 1890-1900 | 0 |
| 1900-1910 | 66 |
| 1910-1920 | 389 |
| 1920-1930 | 1,747 |
| 1930-1940 | 7,235 |
| 1940-1950 | 46,661 |
| 1950-1960 | 86,640 |
| 1960-1970 | 60,731 |
| 1970-1980 | 28,863 |
| 1980-1990 | 20,012 |
| 1990-2000 | 13,819 |
| 2000-2010 | 10,547 |
| 2010-2019 | 7,113 |
| 2020-2029 | 2,825 |
Famous people named Danny
- Danny DeVito: Actor, Director
- Danny Glover: Actor, Activist
- Danny Trejo: Actor
Fun facts
- Although created as a hypocorism for Daniel, Danny emerged as a popular standalone official birth name in the United States during the 1940s and 1950s.
- The name was further popularized by iconic mid-century characters such as Danny Zuko in Grease and Danny Tanner in Full House.