Girl name
Penny name meaning
“Duck; a water bird”
Penny means “duck” or “a water bird” in the meaning given here. An English short form of Penelope, it is linked through that name to Greek pēnelops, a kind of duck. Used for girls in Türkiye, Penny evokes a duck floating on the water.
- Gender
- ♀ Girl
- Origin
- European languages
- Syllables
- 1
- Popularity
- #2,189
What does Penny mean?
Duck; a water bird
In Turkish: Ördek; bir su kuşu
Penny is one of the English feminine names that developed from an everyday shortened form of a longer name. Through Penelope, it has literary associations with waiting and weaving in the Odyssey. It also shares its spelling with an English coin denomination, although that word does not explain the Penelope-derived name.
Origin of the name Penny
Penny is an English short form of Penelope. Penelope is associated with Greek pēnelops, a word for a kind of duck; its ultimate etymology is disputed, and explanations involving weaving also exist.
| Linguistic origin | European languages, Greek |
|---|---|
| Is Penny in the Quran? | No |
| Starts with | P · Pe |
How to pronounce Penny
| Syllables | 1 · 5 letters · 5-letter girl names |
|---|---|
| IPA | /pennj/ |
Is Penny a girl’s name?
Yes, Penny is used mostly as a girl’s name. See all girl names.
Penny does not appear in TÜİK’s top-30 lists (Türkiye and provinces, up to 2025). In our sample of notable people (Wikidata), 1 people bear it; this is not a national figure.
Spellings and similar names
Names that sound like Penny
Names with related meanings
- Belinay♀Hawk and moon
- Hüma♀Mythical bird bringing fortune and happiness
- Helin♀A bird's nest
- Hümanur♀Name evoking the huma bird and light
- Kumru♀A dove with a soft cooing call
- Suna♀A duck known for its patterned plumage
- Turna♀A long-necked migratory bird
- Çakır♂♀Light, flecked eye colour
- Sumru♂♀Tern
- Dudu♀Parrot
- Selva♀Quail
- Kanat♂♀Wing
Famous people named Penny
- Penny Karabey · b. 1975
FAQ about the name Penny
What is the meaning of Penny?
Penny means “Duck; a water bird”. Penny is an English short form of Penelope. Penelope is associated with Greek pēnelops, a word for a kind of duck; its ultimate etymology is disputed, and explanations involving weaving also exist.
Is Penny a girl’s name?
Yes, Penny is used mostly as a girl’s name.
Is Penny in the Quran?
No. Neither the name Penny nor its source word occurs in the Quran.
What is the origin of the name Penny?
Penny is of European languages and Greek origin.
How many syllables does Penny have?
Penny has 1 syllable and 5 letters.
How popular is the name Penny?
Penny does not appear in TÜİK’s top-30 lists (Türkiye and provinces, up to 2025). In our sample of notable people (Wikidata), 1 people bear it; this is not a national figure.
Famous people named Penny?
Notable people named Penny include Penny Karabey.
Sources and method
Meanings and origins draw on language sources and name dictionaries; popularity figures come from TÜİK’s address-based population register, and notable people from Wikidata.
Entry ID: nm11694 · Updated 2026-10-24 · How we research names · Report a mistake