Jenny

♀ Girl

Pronounced JEN-ee /ˈdʒɛn.iː/Low

Meaning: God is gracious, belovedLow

In 30 seconds: Jenny is a cheerful diminutive of Jennifer (the Cornish form of Guinevere) or Jane (from Hebrew Yochanan meaning God is gracious). A warm, classic nickname-name, Jenny carries decades of beloved popular culture associations.

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Origin LowWelsh, Hebrew, English

MeaningGod is gracious, beloved

U.S. rank (2025)#1503 ↘ Falling

2025 U.S. births142 girls (0.01% of U.S. girls)

Peak year1977

Total births (all-time)≈ 92,098

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

Jenny is a diminutive of Jennifer, the Cornish form of the Welsh Gwenhwyfar (Guinevere) meaning white phantom or fair one, and also of Jane from Hebrew Yochanan meaning God is gracious. As a standalone name it has been used for centuries.

Jenny was a top name in English-speaking countries in the late 19th and early 20th centuries and again in the 1970s-1980s. It has a timeless warmth and approachability that keeps it in use across generations.

Did you know? Forrest Gump's beloved Jenny — Run, Forrest, run! — is one of cinema's most memorable characters, played by Robin Wright in the 1994 film. Her name became synonymous with a gentle, bittersweet love story.

Overall data confidence 90%

Behind the Name: Jenny

Variations

JenniferJaneJennieGen

Nicknames

Jen

Famous Bearers

★Jenny Curran (fictional) (fictional)
Childhood love of the title character in the 1994 film Forrest Gump, played by Robin Wright

If you like Jenny…

Jennifer— Full form of same name root

Jane— Another diminutive root with same Hebrew meaning

Wendy— Two-syllable vintage -y name of same era

Penny— Two-syllable vintage -y name of same friendly feel

Explore names like Jenny

By themehebrew classic two-syllable vintage welsh diminutive

By meaningLove God / Divine Grace

All themes →All meanings →All origins →

Frequently Asked

What does Jenny mean?

Jenny means God is gracious as a short form of Jane or Jennifer, which derives from the Hebrew Yochanan.

Is Jenny a standalone name?

Yes, Jenny has been used as a standalone given name for centuries as well as a nickname for Jennifer or Jane.

How do you pronounce Jenny?

Jenny is pronounced JEN-ee with two syllables.

What names are similar to Jenny?

Similar names include Jennifer, Jane, Wendy, and Penny.