Peni
A feminine given name of Polynesian origin meaning "bundle of goods".
Name Census estimates that about 113 living Americans carry the first name Peni. It is a predominantly female name (96.6% of registrations). The average person named Peni today is around 64 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Peni births was 1958 (13 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Peni. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
People living today
113
~ 1 in 3,033,224 Americans
Peak year
1958
13 babies that year
Average age
64
years old
1995 SSA rank
#6,395
Tracked since 1946
Gender
Gender distribution for Peni
Peni leans heavily female at 96.6% of total registrations, but 5 boys have also been registered with the name over the years, giving it a small but present crossover presence.
Peni as a male name
- Ranked #9,919 in 1995
- 5 male births in 1995
- Peak: 1995 (5 births)
Peni as a female name
- Ranked #6,395 in 1972
- 8 female births in 1972
- Peak: 1958 (13 births)
Popularity
Peni: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Peni from the 1940s through to the 1990s, spanning 5 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1960s, with 66 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 1960s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Peni by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Peni during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Penis live
Origin
Meaning and history of Peni
The name Peni originated from the Latin word "penis," which refers to the male reproductive organ. It was first used as a slang term in ancient Rome, often as a form of insult or mockery.
In the Middle Ages, Peni emerged as a nickname or diminutive form of the name Penelope, which was derived from the Greek words "pene" (web) and "lope" (woven). However, the association with the Latin "penis" remained, and the name Peni was rarely given to children during this period.
The earliest recorded use of Peni as a given name can be found in the court records of Florence, Italy, in the late 15th century. It was given to a young man named Peni Barsotti, who was convicted of petty theft in 1487.
Throughout the Renaissance period, the name Peni gained some popularity among the lower classes in Italy, particularly in rural areas. It was often used as a playful or humorous name, reflecting the bawdy humor of the time.
One of the earliest notable individuals with the name Peni was Peni della Robbia (1469-1539), an Italian sculptor and artist known for his works in terracotta. He was part of the famous della Robbia family of artists in Florence.
In the 18th century, the name Peni appeared in literature, with the character Peni Marchi in the novel "The Betrothed" by Alessandro Manzoni (1785-1873). This helped to popularize the name, albeit in a humorous or satirical context.
Another notable figure with the name Peni was Peni Broglio (1891-1965), an Italian politician and diplomat who served as the Minister of Foreign Affairs for Italy from 1944 to 1946.
In the 20th century, the name Peni gained some traction in parts of South America, particularly in Peru and Bolivia. This was likely due to the influence of Italian immigrants and the name's resemblance to the Spanish word "peña," meaning "cliff" or "rock."
One of the most famous individuals with the name Peni was Peni Ramírez (1927-2009), a Peruvian singer and composer known for his contributions to the genre of Andean music.
Despite its unique and sometimes humorous connotations, the name Peni has endured throughout history, with individuals bearing this name leaving their mark in various fields, from art and literature to politics and music.
People
Peni + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Peni as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with P
Other first names starting with P with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Peni: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Peni?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 113 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Peni going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 3,033,224 US residents.
Is Peni a common name?
We classify Peni as "Very Rare". It ranks above 66.3% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 149 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Peni most popular?
The single biggest year for Peni was 1958, when 13 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Peni is about 64 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Peni a female name?
Yes, 96.6% of people registered as Peni in the SSA data are female. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.