Fun Facts About the Name Danny
- An established favorite: Danny held a place in the U.S. top 100 for 33 consecutive years, from 1943 through 1975.
- More than 288 thousand babies named Danny: U.S. records list 288,332 babies given the name Danny from 1880 through 2025. Even 1,693 girls received the name Danny - about 1 girl for every 169 boys.
What Does the Name Danny Mean?
Danny is an English familiar form of Daniel, a Hebrew name commonly translated as "God is my judge." The parent name comes from the Hebrew Daniyyel (דָּנִיֵּאל), which is built from elements meaning "judge," "my," and "God." Some explanations reverse the elements as "My judge is God," but the components are not disputed. Danny has no separate etymology of its own; it inherits the meaning of Daniel. In English, it is formed by adding the familiar -y ending to the short form Dan.
Danny Name History & Origins
Daniel is the name of the prophet and central figure in the biblical Book of Daniel. Through the Greek form Daniēl and the Latin Daniel, the name entered Christian Europe and was used in many languages. In English, Daniel was established as a given name, and its short form Dan gave rise to the affectionate diminutive Danny through the common English pattern of adding -y to a short name.
Danny developed its own life as an independent given name in the English-speaking world, not only as a nickname for Daniel. The ballad "Danny Boy," with lyrics written by Frederic Weatherly in 1913 to the tune of the Londonderry Air, is a well-known later use of the name, not its origin. Danny is recorded as a standalone given name in English-speaking countries by the 20th century.
How Popular is the Name Danny?
Danny remained among the top 100 boy names in the U.S. from 1943 to 1975. Its highest annual birth count was in 1954, and people born that year turn 72 in 2026.
U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #6,600 | 17 | 0.0011% |
| 2024 | #9,046 | 11 | 0.0007% |
| 2023 | #7,331 | 15 | 0.0009% |
| 2022 | #7,365 | 15 | 0.0009% |
| 2021 | #6,757 | 17 | 0.0010% |
| 2020 | #7,646 | 14 | 0.0009% |
| 2019 | #9,264 | 11 | 0.0007% |
| 2018 | #8,737 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 2017 | #9,472 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 2016 | #9,021 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 2015 | #11,115 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 2014 | #13,416 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2013 | #9,755 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 2012 | #8,752 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 2011 | #17,426 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2010 | #10,606 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 2009 | #7,425 | 17 | 0.0009% |
| 2008 | #11,003 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 2007 | #11,039 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 2006 | #17,796 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2005 | #12,101 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 2004 | #7,939 | 14 | 0.0008% |
| 2003 | #14,298 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2002 | #9,669 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 2000 | #12,100 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1999 | #13,077 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1998 | #8,739 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 1997 | #6,950 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 1996 | #6,812 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 1995 | #7,165 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 1994 | #7,218 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 1993 | #6,023 | 15 | 0.0008% |
| 1992 | #6,385 | 14 | 0.0008% |
| 1991 | #5,465 | 17 | 0.0009% |
| 1990 | #6,203 | 14 | 0.0007% |
| 1989 | #5,348 | 16 | 0.0009% |
| 1988 | #4,202 | 21 | 0.0012% |
| 1987 | #4,898 | 16 | 0.0009% |
| 1986 | #4,582 | 17 | 0.0010% |
| 1985 | #4,005 | 20 | 0.0012% |
| 1984 | #3,345 | 25 | 0.0015% |
| 1983 | #3,581 | 22 | 0.0013% |
| 1982 | #4,991 | 14 | 0.0008% |
| 1981 | #4,778 | 15 | 0.0009% |
| 1980 | #4,184 | 18 | 0.0011% |
| 1979 | #4,457 | 16 | 0.0010% |
| 1978 | #3,805 | 19 | 0.0012% |
| 1977 | #3,643 | 20 | 0.0013% |
| 1976 | #2,446 | 33 | 0.0023% |
| 1975 | #2,523 | 31 | 0.0021% |
| 1974 | #2,511 | 30 | 0.0020% |
| 1973 | #3,140 | 21 | 0.0014% |
| 1972 | #2,319 | 32 | 0.0021% |
| 1971 | #2,608 | 28 | 0.0017% |
| 1970 | #2,407 | 31 | 0.0018% |
| 1969 | #1,937 | 42 | 0.0025% |
| 1968 | #2,311 | 28 | 0.0017% |
| 1967 | #2,505 | 24 | 0.0015% |
| 1966 | #2,772 | 20 | 0.0012% |
| 1965 | #2,160 | 30 | 0.0017% |
| 1964 | #2,424 | 26 | 0.0014% |
| 1963 | #2,262 | 28 | 0.0015% |
| 1962 | #1,861 | 38 | 0.0019% |
| 1961 | #1,928 | 36 | 0.0018% |
| 1960 | #2,203 | 28 | 0.0014% |
| 1959 | #1,702 | 42 | 0.0021% |
| 1958 | #1,879 | 34 | 0.0017% |
| 1957 | #1,848 | 35 | 0.0017% |
| 1956 | #2,011 | 29 | 0.0014% |
| 1955 | #2,167 | 25 | 0.0013% |
| 1954 | #2,254 | 23 | 0.0012% |
| 1953 | #2,031 | 26 | 0.0014% |
| 1952 | #1,583 | 37 | 0.0020% |
| 1951 | #1,927 | 26 | 0.0014% |
| 1950 | #2,572 | 16 | 0.0009% |
| 1949 | #1,925 | 25 | 0.0015% |
| 1948 | #2,141 | 21 | 0.0012% |
| 1947 | #2,155 | 21 | 0.0012% |
| 1946 | #2,334 | 17 | 0.0011% |
| 1945 | #1,887 | 20 | 0.0015% |
| 1944 | #2,651 | 12 | 0.0009% |
| 1943 | #2,581 | 13 | 0.0009% |
| 1942 | #3,230 | 9 | 0.0007% |
| 1941 | #2,565 | 12 | 0.0010% |
| 1940 | #4,494 | 5 | 0.0004% |
| 1939 | #2,962 | 9 | 0.0008% |
| 1938 | #2,978 | 9 | 0.0008% |
| 1937 | #2,985 | 9 | 0.0008% |
| 1936 | #3,789 | 6 | 0.0006% |
| 1934 | #3,904 | 6 | 0.0006% |
| 1933 | #3,836 | 6 | 0.0006% |
| 1931 | #2,810 | 10 | 0.0009% |
| 1930 | #4,699 | 5 | 0.0004% |
| 1929 | #4,718 | 5 | 0.0004% |
| 1928 | #2,811 | 11 | 0.0010% |
| 1926 | #3,637 | 8 | 0.0007% |
| 1925 | #3,750 | 8 | 0.0007% |
| 1918 | #4,991 | 5 | 0.0004% |
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #628 | 445 | 0.0261% |
| 2024 | #641 | 435 | 0.0254% |
| 2023 | #598 | 473 | 0.0277% |
| 2022 | #614 | 456 | 0.0261% |
| 2021 | #553 | 516 | 0.0295% |
| 2020 | #567 | 494 | 0.0286% |
| 2019 | #522 | 546 | 0.0304% |
| 2018 | #535 | 525 | 0.0289% |
| 2017 | #502 | 577 | 0.0312% |
| 2016 | #479 | 641 | 0.0338% |
| 2015 | #429 | 715 | 0.0373% |
| 2014 | #429 | 710 | 0.0370% |
| 2013 | #391 | 762 | 0.0403% |
| 2012 | #385 | 774 | 0.0408% |
| 2011 | #349 | 863 | 0.0454% |
| 2010 | #320 | 1,000 | 0.0521% |
| 2009 | #318 | 1,003 | 0.0506% |
| 2008 | #330 | 995 | 0.0488% |
| 2007 | #309 | 1,064 | 0.0513% |
| 2006 | #307 | 1,074 | 0.0523% |
| 2005 | #313 | 1,050 | 0.0526% |
| 2004 | #304 | 1,039 | 0.0523% |
| 2003 | #288 | 1,083 | 0.0548% |
| 2002 | #269 | 1,160 | 0.0597% |
| 2001 | #292 | 1,020 | 0.0525% |
| 2000 | #286 | 1,059 | 0.0539% |
| 1999 | #275 | 1,069 | 0.0557% |
| 1998 | #269 | 1,057 | 0.0553% |
| 1997 | #253 | 1,140 | 0.0605% |
| 1996 | #245 | 1,206 | 0.0637% |
| 1995 | #235 | 1,259 | 0.0661% |
| 1994 | #231 | 1,279 | 0.0662% |
| 1993 | #214 | 1,422 | 0.0725% |
| 1992 | #190 | 1,623 | 0.0813% |
| 1991 | #173 | 1,845 | 0.0913% |
| 1990 | #162 | 1,919 | 0.0934% |
| 1989 | #158 | 1,912 | 0.0956% |
| 1988 | #145 | 1,902 | 0.0994% |
| 1987 | #149 | 1,846 | 0.0989% |
| 1986 | #147 | 1,913 | 0.1039% |
| 1985 | #141 | 2,015 | 0.1090% |
| 1984 | #136 | 2,000 | 0.1108% |
| 1983 | #133 | 2,019 | 0.1126% |
| 1982 | #137 | 2,045 | 0.1127% |
| 1981 | #130 | 2,094 | 0.1169% |
| 1980 | #120 | 2,267 | 0.1271% |
| 1979 | #121 | 2,260 | 0.1313% |
| 1978 | #115 | 2,209 | 0.1345% |
| 1977 | #111 | 2,436 | 0.1482% |
| 1976 | #102 | 2,494 | 0.1589% |
| 1975 | #94 | 2,740 | 0.1755% |
| 1974 | #91 | 2,861 | 0.1819% |
| 1973 | #83 | 3,180 | 0.2040% |
| 1972 | #87 | 3,306 | 0.2039% |
| 1971 | #82 | 3,610 | 0.2041% |
| 1970 | #85 | 3,768 | 0.2028% |
| 1969 | #73 | 4,012 | 0.2243% |
| 1968 | #72 | 3,983 | 0.2292% |
| 1967 | #68 | 4,311 | 0.2472% |
| 1966 | #62 | 4,721 | 0.2647% |
| 1965 | #56 | 5,675 | 0.3051% |
| 1964 | #56 | 6,475 | 0.3249% |
| 1963 | #55 | 7,098 | 0.3495% |
| 1962 | #54 | 7,646 | 0.3696% |
| 1961 | #54 | 8,194 | 0.3858% |
| 1960 | #48 | 8,613 | 0.4040% |
| 1959 | #48 | 8,728 | 0.4089% |
| 1958 | #45 | 8,933 | 0.4209% |
| 1957 | #45 | 8,822 | 0.4089% |
| 1956 | #46 | 8,564 | 0.4049% |
| 1955 | #45 | 8,718 | 0.4232% |
| 1954 | #42 | 9,105 | 0.4466% |
| 1953 | #41 | 8,627 | 0.4374% |
| 1952 | #40 | 8,821 | 0.4538% |
| 1951 | #41 | 8,179 | 0.4344% |
| 1950 | #39 | 8,143 | 0.4548% |
| 1949 | #40 | 8,023 | 0.4523% |
| 1948 | #39 | 8,008 | 0.4564% |
| 1947 | #39 | 8,069 | 0.4410% |
| 1946 | #46 | 6,650 | 0.4095% |
| 1945 | #56 | 4,175 | 0.3102% |
| 1944 | #76 | 3,511 | 0.2576% |
| 1943 | #88 | 2,898 | 0.2030% |
| 1942 | #111 | 2,203 | 0.1595% |
| 1941 | #120 | 1,644 | 0.1338% |
| 1940 | #126 | 1,478 | 0.1275% |
| 1939 | #137 | 1,271 | 0.1148% |
| 1938 | #137 | 1,209 | 0.1090% |
| 1937 | #152 | 1,022 | 0.0958% |
| 1936 | #176 | 758 | 0.0731% |
| 1935 | #192 | 670 | 0.0643% |
| 1934 | #204 | 604 | 0.0585% |
| 1933 | #230 | 502 | 0.0506% |
| 1932 | #267 | 422 | 0.0404% |
| 1931 | #281 | 387 | 0.0372% |
| 1930 | #289 | 390 | 0.0355% |
| 1929 | #312 | 314 | 0.0292% |
| 1928 | #343 | 277 | 0.0250% |
| 1927 | #416 | 209 | 0.0185% |
| 1926 | #396 | 223 | 0.0201% |
| 1925 | #457 | 174 | 0.0156% |
| 1924 | #563 | 126 | 0.0111% |
| 1923 | #556 | 124 | 0.0113% |
| 1922 | #620 | 108 | 0.0099% |
| 1921 | #633 | 102 | 0.0093% |
| 1920 | #675 | 90 | 0.0085% |
| 1919 | #723 | 77 | 0.0079% |
| 1918 | #764 | 72 | 0.0071% |
| 1917 | #786 | 64 | 0.0069% |
| 1916 | #974 | 43 | 0.0048% |
| 1915 | #1,023 | 39 | 0.0046% |
| 1914 | #1,078 | 28 | 0.0043% |
| 1913 | #839 | 33 | 0.0064% |
| 1912 | #1,287 | 14 | 0.0033% |
| 1911 | #1,210 | 9 | 0.0040% |
| 1910 | #1,060 | 10 | 0.0051% |
| 1909 | #965 | 10 | 0.0061% |
| 1908 | #1,036 | 8 | 0.0052% |
| 1907 | #1,122 | 7 | 0.0048% |
| 1905 | #1,275 | 5 | 0.0038% |
| 1904 | #991 | 7 | 0.0055% |
| 1903 | #1,162 | 5 | 0.0042% |
| 1902 | #808 | 9 | 0.0073% |
| 1901 | #791 | 8 | 0.0075% |
| 1900 | #1,069 | 7 | 0.0047% |
Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.
