Penn

At a Glance

Meaning

As a surname, either 'an enclosure' or, from a Celtic place-name root, 'hilltop/head'

Origin

English (surname/place name)

Gender

Boy

Pronunciation

PENListen

Penn is a boy's name, pronounced PEN (/ˈpɛn/), with English surname and place-name roots and a clean, modern style. It's often said to simply mean 'enclosure,' but that overstates the certainty — as a surname, Penn has several competing roots, including 'enclosure' and a Celtic word for 'hilltop' or 'head,' so no single meaning is confirmed.

Meaning & Origin of Penn

Meaning: As a surname, either 'an enclosure' or, from a Celtic place-name root, 'hilltop/head'.

Origin: English (surname/place name).

A common claim: Penn is often stated to simply mean 'enclosure.' Actually: That overstates the certainty — as a surname, Penn has several competing roots (English 'enclosure', Celtic 'hilltop/head', or a variant of Parnell), so no single meaning is confirmed.

Source: Wiktionary.

How to Pronounce Penn

Popularity of Penn

Penn ranked #2978 in 2024 with 42 babies given the name, down from its peak of #1869 in 2014, when 79 babies received it.

Names Like Penn

These names share Penn’s style, era or origin.

• Alder
• Anson
• Ashon
• Birch
• Cason
• Cedar

FAQ

What does the name Penn mean?

As a surname, either ‘an enclosure’ or, from a Celtic place-name root, ‘hilltop/head’. (Source: Wiktionary)

How do you pronounce Penn?

Penn is pronounced PEN (IPA: /ˈpɛn/).

Is Penn a popular name right now?

Penn peaked at #1869 in 2014 and is ranked #2978 as of 2024. (U.S. Social Security Administration data, 1915–2024.)

Make Penn Name Art

Free printable nursery art for Penn, pre-loaded below — pick a layout, palette, and font, then download a print-ready PNG.