Jenny
Jenny is a girl's name of English origin.
Meaning
White wave, fair phantom, or God is gracious.
Origin and history
Jenny originated as a medieval diminutive of Johanna or Jane, but later became overwhelmingly associated as a pet form of Jennifer (from the Cornish Guinevere). It developed into an independent given name throughout the English-speaking world. In the United States, it enjoyed immense popularity in the mid-to-late 20th century alongside Jennifer and remains a familiar classic.
Popularity in the United States
92,101 babies in the United States have been named Jenny since 1880. It ranks #398 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #1244.
States where it is most popular
- CA (16.2 %)
- NY (8.7 %)
- TX (7 %)
- OH (4.6 %)
- IL (4.5 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 167 |
| 1890-1900 | 237 |
| 1900-1910 | 306 |
| 1910-1920 | 979 |
| 1920-1930 | 1,963 |
| 1930-1940 | 1,937 |
| 1940-1950 | 3,580 |
| 1950-1960 | 8,702 |
| 1960-1970 | 10,952 |
| 1970-1980 | 22,902 |
| 1980-1990 | 19,719 |
| 1990-2000 | 10,142 |
| 2000-2010 | 6,686 |
| 2010-2019 | 2,884 |
| 2020-2029 | 945 |
Famous people named Jenny
- Jenny McCarthy: Actress, Television Host
- Jenny Slate: Actress, Comedian
- Jenny Lewis: Singer, Songwriter
Fun facts
- Historically a pet form of Jane or Joan, Jenny shifted in the 20th century to become the primary nickname for Jennifer.
- The name was immortalized in popular culture by Tommy Tutone's 1981 hit song '867-5309/Jenny'.