Holding steady, #14,942 for girls today.
Popularity of Penda since 1975
Babies named Penda per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 2008, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Penda's real moment was 1975.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1970s | 8 |
| 1980s | 0 |
| 1990s | 11 |
| 2000s | 42 |
| 2010s | 21 |
| 2020s | 19 |
Meaning & origin
Penda is an extremely rare name in the United States, first appearing in records in 1975 and peaking that same year. Its trajectory has remained stable, with negligible usage over the decades. As of 2025, the name ranks 14,942, with only 1 in 321,453 newborns receiving it. The name is primarily known from the 7th-century Mercian king Penda, whose name's etymology remains uncertain. Despite its historical significance, Penda has not seen a revival and remains an uncommon choice, recorded exclusively in the 1970s with no modern presence in top states.
The name Penda is most famously borne by the 7th-century king of Mercia, Penda of Mercia. The meaning of the Old English name is uncertain, with no clear etymology. It has rarely been used as a given name in modern times, although it occasionally appears in records from the 1970s onward, likely due to interest in historical names.
“Penda” around the world
Where Penda lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
20
babies in 2024
Sources: INSEE (France).
Sibling names for Penda
Names that share Penda's style, for a brother or sister.
