Recent in Baby
When Baby Resists SolidsWhen Baby Resists SolidsBaby Biting TipsBaby Biting Tips5 Tips To Help Prevent Highchair Injuries5 Tips To Help Prevent Highchair InjuriesWhen Baby and Pet MeetWhen Baby and Pet MeetTreatments for ColicTreatments for ColicBaby Milestones – The First YearBaby Milestones – The First YearTips for Relieving Teething PainTips for Relieving Teething PainBenefits of Making Your Own Baby FoodBenefits of Making Your Own Baby Food

Home › Baby Names Directory › Hennessy

Hennessy

♀ Girl

Pronounced HEN-ə-see /ˈhɛn.ə.si/High

Meaning: From Irish Ó hAonghusa, 'descendant of Aonghus' — a name linked to the god Aengus, 'one strength/choice' — also the cognac surnameMedium

In 30 seconds: An Irish surname with a cognac's swagger: Hennessy descends from Aonghus, the Irish love-god, and gained worldwide gloss from the brandy house. Bold, festive, and unmistakably modern for a girl.
💕 Browse more names
Origin MediumIrish
MeaningFrom Irish Ó hAonghusa, 'descendant of Aonghus' — a name linked to the god Aengus, 'one strength/choice' — also the cognac surname
U.S. rank (2025)#3936 ↘ Falling
2025 U.S. births37 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)
Peak year2019
Total births (all-time)≈ 1,568

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 201919912025

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

Hennessy anglicizes Ó hAonghusa, 'descendant of Aonghus' — the Irish god of youth and love, his name read as 'one strength' or 'one choice'. The cognac dynasty founded by an Irish émigré made the surname a luxury byword, and hip-hop made it a culture-name; both fed its use as a girls' first name.

It registers thinly and recently for girls. Rare, festive, and surname-bold — Henny waits as the nickname.

Did you know? Hennessy cognac was founded in 1765 by Richard Hennessy, an Irish soldier in French service — the bottle's Irish surname conquered France before it conquered hip-hop.
Overall data confidence 78%
Behind the Name — Aonghus — root name

Variations

HennesseyHenessy

Nicknames

HennyHen

Famous Bearers

  • ★Hennessy Carolina (1995-)
    American television personality and social media figure

If you like Hennessy…

Kennedy— a fellow Irish surname turned girls' name
Sullivan— the companion grand Irish surname
Mackenna— another Irish surname-name for daughters
Delaney— the Irish-surname classic for girls

Explore names like Hennessy

By thememodernsurname-nameirish
By meaningGod / DivineStrengthSnow / Winter

All themes →All meanings →All origins →

Frequently Asked

What does the name Hennessy mean?

Hennessy comes from Irish Ó hAonghusa, 'descendant of Aonghus', the Irish love-god.

How do you pronounce Hennessy?

It's said HEN-ə-see /ˈhɛn.ə.si/ — three syllables, stress on the first.

Is Hennessy a boy or girl name?

Hennessy is used for both sexes; this page covers its use as a girl's name.

How popular is Hennessy?

Hennessy is a rare name for girls in the U.S.

💬 Ask Nia