Henny

Meaning of Henny

Henny, pronounced HEN-ee, originated as a brisk Dutch and English diminutive of Henrietta or Hendrika, both tracing back to the Old German Heinrich and the meaning “home ruler.” Over time the nickname has stood on its own, carving out a modest yet steady niche in the United States, where it has lingered around the lower end of the Top 1,000 since the 1970s—never trendy, never extinct, just reliably present. Literary minds may recall the cautionary fowl of “Henny-Penny,” while contemporary ears occasionally associate the sound with a certain French cognac, but these side notes have done little to alter the name’s unpretentious appeal. Compact, softly rhythmic, and free of frills, Henny offers parents a heritage-rich choice that feels both vintage and refreshingly unforced.