All about the name

Jenny

Male

« Jenny is an English name derived from Jennifer, which originates from the Welsh Gwenhwyfar meaning 'fair, white, smooth'. »

#6813 since 1900

Meaning, origin, history

The name Jenny is of English origin and is a diminutive form of the name Jennifer. Jennifer itself is derived from the Welsh name Gwenhwyfar, which means "fair, white, smooth." Thus, Jenny means "fair" or "white." The use of Jenny as an independent given name began in the late 19th century, although it had been used earlier as a pet form of Jennifer. In the mid-20th century, Jenny became quite popular and was among the top 100 names for girls in several years during this period. Historically, there are several notable individuals named Jenny. One famous Jenny is Jenny Lind, known as the "Swedish Nightingale," who was a renowned opera singer in the mid-19th century. Another notable figure is Jenny Agutter, an English actress best known for her roles in films such as "The Railway Children" and "An American Werewolf in London." In literature, there are several characters named Jenny, including Jenny Curran from Ernest Hemingway's novel "The Old Man and the Sea," and Jenny Horner from J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter series. Overall, the name Jenny has a long history and has been used by notable individuals throughout time, making it a classic yet approachable choice for a given name.

In numbers

Popularity of the name Jenny since 1880

Total births
605
Total since 1880
Peak year
1971
21 births
in 1995
10
Recent births (5 years)
5-year trend
0%
vs previous 5 years