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Hennessey
How to Pronounce Hennessey
Pronounced HEN-uh-see /ˈhɛnəsi/Medium
Meaning: Hennessey is an Irish surname used as a given name. It anglicizes Ó hAonghusa, 'descendant of Aonghus', a personal name built from aon 'one' and either gus 'strength/vigor' or a root for 'choice', so 'one strength' or 'unique choice'. The same surname is famous as a cognac brand, but that is a family name in origin, not the meaning of the name.Low
Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data
U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.
SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.
History & Origin
Hennessey began as the Irish surname Ó hAonghusa, 'descendant of Aonghus', a name blending 'one' with 'strength' or 'choice'. Like many Irish surnames it crossed into first-name use; its familiarity as a cognac brand is a separate story from its true, older meaning.
Hennessey never became common as a girls' name in United States records. It surfaced in the early nineteen-nineties, reached a quiet high of a couple dozen girls a year around 2015, and stayed uncommon. A girl named Hennessey then is around ten now.
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Frequently Asked
What does the name Hennessey mean?
Hennessey is an Irish surname from Ó hAonghusa, 'descendant of Aonghus', meaning 'one strength' or 'unique choice'; the cognac brand shares the family name but not the meaning.
How do you pronounce Hennessey?
It's said HEN-uh-see /ˈhɛnəsi/, three syllables, stress on the first.
Is Hennessey a boy or girl name?
Hennessey is used here as a girl's name, though it is a surname in origin.
Is Hennessey a popular name?
No, it has always been rare as a given name, ticking up in the mid twenty-tens.