Sophia Girl
soh-FEE-uh
“wisdom” · Greek
#5
Jenny
GirlEnglish· “pet form of Jane or Jennifer”
- Meaning
- pet form of Jane or Jennifer
- Origin
- English
- Pronunciation
- JEH-nee
- Syllables
- 2
- US rank 2025
- #1,503
- US babies 2025
- 142
- Best rank
- #108 (1977)
- Peak year
- 1977
Meaning and origin of Jenny
Jenny is an English name that is usually said to mean “pet form of Jane or Jennifer”.
Jenny started in medieval England as a pet form of Jane and Janet, and it was later used as a nickname for Jennifer, a Cornish form of Guinevere. It has been an independent name for centuries. The Swedish soprano Jenny Lind, known as the Swedish Nightingale, made it famous in the nineteenth century with her celebrated American tour. Jenny is friendly, cheerful and familiar, with a light, vintage feel. It can be given on its own or used as the everyday name for a Jennifer or Jane. Jennie is a common alternative spelling.
Other spellings with the same sound: Jennie, Jenni, Jenney.
Popularity over time
Jenny has been given to babies in the United States since at least 1880, the first year of Social Security records. It has ranked in the top 1,000 in 137 different years. Its best national rank was #108 in 1977, the same year it reached its highest count of 2,688 babies. In 2025, 142 babies were named Jenny, and it ranked #1,503 nationally. That is 50% fewer than ten years earlier, so it is becoming less common.
Its national rank moved from #507 in 1920, #322 in 1950, #117 in 1980, #361 in 2000, #787 in 2010, and #1,503 in 2025. Of the 92,101 US girls named Jenny since records began, 25% were born in the 1970s, its biggest decade. The 1980s come next, with 19,719 babies. Since 2010, 3,829 more have been named Jenny.
Other girls' names that peaked around the same time include Tabitha, Aimee, Mandy, Shawna, and Shanna.
Where it is most popular (2025)
In 2025, Jenny ranked highest in Mississippi, Alabama, and Missouri.
| State | Rank there | Babies |
|---|---|---|
| Mississippi | #572 | 5 |
| Alabama | #876 | 5 |
| Missouri | #992 | 5 |
| Illinois | #1319 | 6 |
| Texas | #1331 | 19 |
Gender, sound and spelling
In the US it is used almost only for girls.
Jenny is usually pronounced JEH-nee, with two syllables. It has five letters, starts with J and ends in “-ny”. Names that sound the same but are spelled differently include Jennie, Jenni, and Jenney.
Middle names for Jenny
A few middle names that flow with Jenny: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Jenny
Similar names
Penny Girl
PEH-nee
“short form of Penelope; also the coin” · English
#740
Sunny Unisex
SUN-ee
“cheerful; full of sunshine” · English
#390
Wendy Girl
WEHN-dee
“popularized by Peter Pan” · English
#1,347
Ally Girl
A-lee
“pet form of Alison or Alexandra” · English
#2,118
Carley Girl
KAHR-lee
“variant of Carly, 'free man'” · English
#2,725
Betsy Girl
BET-see
“my God is an oath (via Elizabeth)” · English
#2,724
Edie Girl
EE-dee
“prosperous in war” · English
#2,069
Bunny Girl
BUH-nee
“nickname from the word bunny” · English
#9,572
Polly Girl
PAH-lee
“pet form of Mary via Molly” · English
#2,318
Molly Girl
MAH-lee
“diminutive of Mary” · English
#196
Katie Girl
KAY-tee
“often said to mean 'pure'” · English
#646
Joey Unisex
JOH-ee
“he will add; short for Joseph” · English
#877
Lists that include Jenny
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Jenny mean?
Jenny is an English name that is usually said to mean “pet form of Jane or Jennifer”.
What is the origin of the name Jenny?
Jenny has English roots. Jenny started in medieval England as a pet form of Jane and Janet, and it was later used as a nickname for Jennifer, a Cornish form of Guinevere.
Is Jenny a popular name?
Not especially. Jenny ranked #1,503 in the US in 2025, which puts it outside the top 1,000.
Is Jenny a boy or girl name?
Jenny is mainly a girl's name. In the US it is used almost only for girls.
How do you pronounce Jenny?
Jenny is usually pronounced JEH-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