Declining since 2015, #9,714 for boys today.
Popularity of Henning since 1913
Babies named Henning per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 2014, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Henning's real moment was 1915.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1910s | 42 |
| 1920s | 76 |
| 1930s | 23 |
| 1940s | 0 |
| 1950s | 0 |
| 1960s | 5 |
| 1970s | 0 |
| 1980s | 0 |
| 1990s | 0 |
| 2000s | 5 |
| 2010s | 92 |
| 2020s | 59 |
Meaning & origin
Henning is a traditional German and Scandinavian name that has seen modest use in the United States since being first recorded in 1913. Its peak year came early, in 1915, reflecting immigration patterns from Northern Europe. Over the past decade, its usage has been falling steadily since 2015, and it remains a rare choice, with an incidence of about 1 in 244,011 newborns in 2025. The name has not been recorded among any top states, suggesting a scattered but consistent presence. While its exact origin is debated, Henning carries the weight of medieval European naming traditions and remains a distinctive, heritage-oriented choice for parents seeking a strong masculine name with Old World roots.
Henning is a given name commonly found in German-speaking and Scandinavian countries. It is often considered a short form of Old High German names beginning with 'hagan' (meaning 'enclosure' or 'hawthorn'), such as Hagen or Hanno. In Denmark and Norway, Henning has been used since the Middle Ages and remains a traditional masculine name.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Hen, Henny
Variants: Hening
Sibling names for Henning
Names that share Henning's style, for a brother or sister.
