Penne
A feminine name of Italian origin referring to a type of pasta.
Name Census estimates that about 334 living Americans carry the first name Penne. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Penne today is around 68 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Penne births was 1962 (93 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Penne. 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.
Key insights
- • The typical person named Penne is about 68 years old today, placing it firmly among the names of earlier generations. Most living Pennes were born before 1968.
People living today
334
~ 1 in 1,026,211 Americans
Peak year
1962
93 babies that year
Average age
68
years old
1971 SSA rank
#9,236
Tracked since 1939
Popularity
Penne: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Penne from the 1930s through to the 1970s, spanning 5 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1960s, with 226 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
Penne 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 Penne during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Pennes live
The SSA's state-level files cover 4 states and territories. Texas, Tennessee, Illinois recorded the most babies named Penne, while Mississippi, Illinois, Tennessee recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 14 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Penne
The name Penne is derived from the Italian word "penna," which means "feather" or "pen." The name has its roots in the Italian language and culture, with its earliest recorded use dating back to the 16th century.
During the Renaissance period in Italy, the quill pen was widely used for writing and calligraphy. The name Penne may have been given to individuals who were skilled in the art of writing or calligraphy, or perhaps to those who worked as scribes or copyists. It is possible that the name was initially a nickname or occupational surname before becoming a given name.
One of the earliest recorded individuals with the name Penne was Penne Antonio, an Italian painter and engraver who lived in the late 16th century. While little is known about his life, his works of art have been preserved in various collections across Italy.
In the 17th century, Penne Giovanna was a notable Italian poet and playwright. Born in 1620 in Venice, she was renowned for her literary works, which often explored themes of love and the human condition. Her plays were performed in various theaters across Italy during her lifetime.
Moving into the 18th century, Penne Leonardo was an Italian architect and engineer who made significant contributions to the design and construction of several iconic buildings and structures in Rome. Born in 1725, his most notable works include the Palazzo Doria Pamphilj and the Fontana del Tritone.
In the 19th century, Penne Francesca was an Italian artist and sculptor who specialized in creating intricate marble sculptures. Born in 1810 in Florence, her works were widely celebrated and can be found in various museums and galleries throughout Italy.
Lastly, Penne Gabriele was an Italian composer and musician who lived during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Born in 1875 in Naples, he composed several operas and orchestral works that were performed in theaters across Europe. His compositions were known for their melodic beauty and emotional depth.
While the name Penne may not be as common today, it holds a rich history and cultural significance, particularly in Italy, where it has been associated with individuals who excelled in various artistic and creative pursuits throughout the centuries.
People
Penne + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Penne 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
Penne: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Penne?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 334 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Penne 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 1,026,211 US residents.
Is Penne a common name?
We classify Penne as "Very Rare". It ranks above 80.4% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 485 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Penne most popular?
The single biggest year for Penne was 1962, when 93 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Penne is about 68 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Penne a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Penne 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.