Penne

♀ Girl

How to Pronounce Penne

Pronounced PEN-ee /ˈpɛn.i/Medium

Meaning: Penne is a spelling of Penny, the pet form of Penelope, from Greek Pēnelopē — linked to pēnē, 'weft, thread' — 'weaver.' In the Odyssey, Penelope famously weaves and unravels a shroud to hold off suitors; Penne carries that classical thread in a short, bright form.Low

In 30 seconds: Penne is a spelling of Penny (said 'PEN-ee'), short for Penelope, the 'weaver' of Greek myth.

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Origin LowGreek, English

MeaningPenne is a spelling of Penny, the pet form of Penelope, from Greek Pēnelopē — linked to pēnē, 'weft, thread' — 'weaver.' In the Odyssey, Penelope famously weaves and unravels a shroud to hold off suitors; Penne carries that classical thread in a short, bright form.

U.S. rank (1971)#9236 ↘ Falling

1971 U.S. births5 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)

Peak year1962

Total births (all-time)≈ 485

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

Penne is a variant of Penny, the affectionate short form of Penelope. The parent name comes from Greek Pēnelopē, associated with weaving; in Homer's Odyssey, Penelope keeps her suitors at bay by weaving and unpicking a burial shroud. Penne trims the name to a bright two beats, part of the mid-century fashion for nickname-names.

Never common, Penne touched a modest high point around 1962 and faded by the early 1970s. Because the identical spelling now reads instantly as the pasta, it is unlikely to revive; parents drawn to the sound choose Penny or the fuller Penelope, the latter enjoying a strong comeback.

Did you know? Penne saw its small peak around 1962, a trim mid-century form of Penny at a time when short, sunny nicknames were being given outright.

Overall data confidence 58%

References — Penne — Variant of Penny/Penelope (Gk 'weaver'); 1962 peak

Variations

PennyPenniePenelope

Nicknames

PenPenny

Famous Bearers

Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Penne…

Penny— the standard spelling of the same nickname

Penelope— the full parent name meaning 'weaver'

Bonnie— a like bright -ie mid-century girls' name

Connie— a same-era short nickname-name

Explore names like Penne

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Penne mean?

Penne is a variant of Penny, short for Penelope, from Greek, meaning 'weaver.'

How do you pronounce Penne?

It's said PEN-ee /ˈpɛn.i/ — two syllables, stress on the first.

Is Penne a boy or girl name?

Penne is used as a girl's name, as a form of Penny.

How popular is Penne?

Penne was an uncommon mid-twentieth-century form of Penny and is rare today.