Noah Boy
NOH-uh
“rest, comfort” · Hebrew
#2
Danny
BoyEnglish, Hebrew· “pet form of Daniel, 'God is my judge'”
- Meaning
- pet form of Daniel, 'God is my judge'
- Origin
- English, Hebrew
- Pronunciation
- DA-nee
- Syllables
- 2
- US rank 2025
- #628
- US babies 2025
- 445
- Best rank
- #39 (1947)
- Peak year
- 1954
Meaning and origin of Danny
Danny is an English and Hebrew name that means “pet form of Daniel, 'God is my judge'”.
Danny is the familiar short form of Daniel, a Hebrew name meaning God is my judge. Daniel is the hero of the biblical Book of Daniel, famous for surviving the lions' den, and the name has been used throughout the Christian and Jewish worlds for centuries. Danny became a name in its own right in the twentieth century and is known from the Irish ballad Danny Boy. It has an easygoing, boyish friendliness. Parents often choose Daniel on the birth certificate and Danny for everyday use, but it also stands well alone.
Other spellings with the same sound: Dannie.
Popularity over time
Danny first appears in US Social Security records in 1900. It has ranked in the top 1,000 in 115 different years, starting in 1901. Its best national rank was #39 in 1947, and the most babies received it in 1954, when 9,103 were named Danny. In 2025, 445 babies were named Danny, and it ranked #628 nationally. That is 38% fewer than ten years earlier, so it is becoming less common.
Its national rank moved from #675 in 1920, #39 in 1950, #120 in 1980, #286 in 2000, #320 in 2010, and #628 in 2025. Of the 286,648 US boys named Danny since records began, 30% were born in the 1950s, its biggest decade. The 1960s come next, with 60,731 babies. Since 2010, 9,938 more have been named Danny.
Other boys' names that peaked around the same time include Alan, Stanley, Philip, Roger, and Jerome.
Where it is most popular (2025)
In 2025, Danny ranked highest in New Mexico, California, and Texas.
| State | Rank there | Babies |
|---|---|---|
| New Mexico | #221 | 9 |
| California | #422 | 77 |
| Texas | #487 | 69 |
| Arizona | #500 | 14 |
| Tennessee | #503 | 15 |
Gender, sound and spelling
About 98% of US babies named Danny over the last 20 years were boys, with a small share of girls.
Danny is usually pronounced DA-nee, with two syllables. It has five letters, starts with D and ends in “-ny”. Names that sound the same but are spelled differently include Dannie.
Middle names for Danny
A few middle names that flow with Danny: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Danny
Similar names
Johnny Boy
JAH-nee
“God is gracious” · English
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Benny Boy
BEH-nee
“short for Benjamin; son of the right hand” · English
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Tony Boy
TOH-nee
“short form of Anthony” · English
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Jonny Boy
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Jimmy Boy
JIH-mee
“holder of the heel, supplanter” · English
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Joey Unisex
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Sonny Boy
SUH-nee
“son” · English
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Sunny Unisex
SUN-ee
“cheerful; full of sunshine” · English
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Toby Boy
TOH-bee
“God is good” · English
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Lenny Boy
LEN-ee
“brave lion (via Leonard)” · English
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Mitchell Boy
MIH-chuhl
“form of Michael” · English
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Mathew Boy
MATH-yoo
“gift of Yahweh” · Hebrew
#975
Lists that include Danny
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Danny mean?
Danny is an English and Hebrew name that means “pet form of Daniel, 'God is my judge'”.
What is the origin of the name Danny?
Danny has English and Hebrew roots. Danny is the familiar short form of Daniel, a Hebrew name meaning God is my judge.
Is Danny a popular name?
Yes. Danny ranked #628 in the US in 2025, which makes it in the top 1,000.
Is Danny a boy or girl name?
Danny is mainly a boy's name. About 98% of US babies named Danny over the last 20 years were boys, with a small share of girls.
How do you pronounce Danny?
Danny is usually pronounced DA-nee. Stressed syllables are in capital letters.
Popularity figures come from US Social Security card applications (names given to at least five babies in a year, 1880 to 2025). How we source names and meanings