UK boy's name
Penn
A masculine name derived from a nickname meaning "small one".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2023. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Penn is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Penn popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2023 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4991, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2010, with 4 births.
This profile covers 7 England and Wales registrations across 2 recorded years from 2010 to 2023. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.
The latest count is about 75% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 7 living people in the UK are called Penn. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2024 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Penn ranked #4991 for boys in England and Wales in 2023, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2010, when 4 boys were registered as Penn.
- • About 7 living people in the UK are estimated to have Penn as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#4991
2023
Births in 2023
3
Latest year
Peak year
2010
4 births
Estimated living
7
2026
Meaning
What does Penn mean?
The name Penn has its origins in the Welsh language and culture. It is believed to be derived from the Welsh word "pen," which means "head" or "chief." This suggests that the name may have initially been used to denote someone of importance or authority in the community.
In its earliest recorded instances, the name Penn appeared as a personal name in medieval Welsh poetry and literature from the 12th century onwards. It was particularly prevalent in the regions of Wales, where it was likely used as a name for male children born into influential families or those with aspirations of leadership.
One of the earliest recorded individuals with the name Penn was Sir Penn Shon of Weobley, a Welsh landowner and knight who lived in the late 13th century. He played a significant role in the conflicts between the Welsh and English during the time of Edward I's conquest of Wales.
Another notable figure bearing the name Penn was William Penn, the English Quaker leader and founder of the Province of Pennsylvania. Born in 1644, Penn established the colony as a haven for religious freedom and democratic principles, and his legacy has had a lasting impact on American history.
In the literary realm, Penn Warren, an American novelist, poet, and literary critic, made significant contributions to the field of literature. Born in 1905, he received numerous accolades, including the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 1947 for his novel "All the King's Men."
The name Penn also found its way into the world of sports with Penn Hendricks, an American football player who competed in the early 20th century. Born in 1887, Hendricks played professional football for the Canton Bulldogs and the Cleveland Indians in the National Football League.
Another individual of note was Penn Yan, a Native American leader of the Seneca tribe who lived in the late 18th century. He played a crucial role in negotiating treaties and maintaining peaceful relations between the Seneca nation and the United States government during the post-Revolutionary War period.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Penn over time
The chart below shows babies named Penn registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2010 to 2023. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Penn, the clearest high point is 2010. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2023, compared with 4 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Penn by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Penn was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.
| Decade | Average rank | Total births | Years covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s | #4991 | 3 | 1 |
| 2010s | #3865 | 4 | 1 |
Related
Names similar to Penn
- Patrick 17,559
- Peter 13,150
- Paul 8,542
- Philip 4,997
- Parker 4,664
- Phoenix 3,865
- Preston 3,370
- Prince 1,782
- Patryk 1,763
- Phillip 1,697
- Percy 1,395
- Perry 1,015
FAQ
Penn: questions and answers
How popular is the name Penn in the UK right now?
In 2023, Penn was ranked #4991 for boys in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Penn most popular?
The peak year on record was 2010, with 4 babies registered as Penn in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Penn?
A masculine name derived from a nickname meaning "small one".
How many people are called Penn in the UK?
A total of 7 babies have been registered as Penn across the 2 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here.
Which records is this page based on?
The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.