Penina
A feminine name of Hebrew origin meaning "pearl" or "coral".
Name Census estimates that about 958 living Americans carry the first name Penina. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Penina today is around 24 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Penina births was 2022 (39 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Penina. 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
958
~ 1 in 357,781 Americans
Peak year
2022
39 babies that year
Average age
24
years old
2024 SSA rank
#4,619
Tracked since 1953
Popularity
Penina: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Penina from the 1950s through to the 2020s, spanning 8 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2010s, with 246 total registrations. Although the numbers have come down from the 2010s peak, Penina remains solidly in use and shows no sign of disappearing from maternity wards.
Babies born per year
Decades
Penina 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 Penina during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Peninas live
The SSA's state-level files cover 3 states and territories. New York, New Jersey, California recorded the most babies named Penina, while California, New Jersey, New York recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 136 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Penina
The name Penina has its origins in the Hebrew language and culture, dating back to ancient times. It is derived from the Hebrew word "peninim," which means "pearls" or "precious stones." The name is often associated with beauty, purity, and value.
In the Hebrew Bible, specifically in the Book of Samuel, Penina is mentioned as the first wife of Elkanah, a man from the tribe of Levi. She is depicted as being jealous of Elkanah's second wife, Hannah, who was initially unable to conceive. The name Penina gained significance in the biblical narrative as it highlighted the struggles and challenges faced by women in ancient times.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Penina can be found in the Talmud, a central text of Rabbinic Judaism. The Talmud mentions a Jewish woman named Penina who lived during the Mishnaic period, around the 2nd century CE. She is cited as an example of a virtuous and pious woman.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Penina. One such person was Penina Moise (1797-1828), an American educator and writer from Charleston, South Carolina. She is considered one of the first Jewish American writers and is known for her contributions to the promotion of education for women.
Another significant figure was Penina Munsh (1847-1923), a Russian-born Hebrew writer and activist. She was a pioneer in the field of Hebrew literature and played a crucial role in the development of modern Hebrew prose. Her works addressed issues of women's rights and social justice.
In the 20th century, Penina Bat-Yehuda (1907-1988) was an Israeli artist and sculptor. She was renowned for her abstract and modern sculptures, many of which can be found in public spaces and museums across Israel.
Penina Navon (born 1931) is an Israeli author and academic. She has written extensively on topics related to literature, culture, and women's studies. Her works have been widely recognized and have contributed to the understanding of Israeli society and its literary landscape.
Penina Adelman (born 1952) is an American artist known for her intricate and detailed drawings. Her works often explore themes of memory, identity, and the human experience. She has exhibited her art in various galleries and museums worldwide.
It is important to note that while these examples showcase the diversity of individuals who have carried the name Penina throughout history, the name's significance and meaning have remained rooted in its Hebrew origins, representing beauty, purity, and value.
People
Penina + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Penina 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
Penina: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Penina?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 958 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Penina 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 357,781 US residents.
Is Penina a common name?
We classify Penina as "Very Rare". It ranks above 89.8% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 989 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Penina most popular?
The single biggest year for Penina was 2022, when 39 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Penina is about 24 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Penina a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Penina 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.