Lenny
About Lenny
A nickname of yesteryear that like alongside Reggie, Alby, Archie, and Bertie, is back in consideration. Already in the UK Top 200, a high-ranking choice in Switzerland and a familiar option in The Netherlands and France, this friendly feeling short from of Leonard might appeal to those who like Freddie and Teddy.
In the US, Lenny hasn't quite caught on, but it is on the rise, given to 133 boys and 50 girls in a recent year. It may have been helped along by the rise of Lennox and Lennon, and by the fact many classrooms have now dropped Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men from the curriculum.
Pronounced LEN-ee.
As of October 2026, Lenny ranked #1419 in US births in 2025 SSA, peaked at #556 in 1961, Nameberry popularity #997.
Editor's take: The name Lenny is a boy's name meaning "brave lion".
Popularity & trends
Data table
| Year | US rank | Births | Per million |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | #1,621 | 96 | 50 |
| 2015 | #1,144 | 165 | 86.1 |
| 2016 | #1,428 | 122 | 64.3 |
| 2017 | #1,655 | 96 | 51.9 |
| 2018 | #1,685 | 94 | 51.8 |
| 2019 | #1,588 | 105 | 58.5 |
| 2020 | #1,667 | 96 | 55.6 |
| 2021 | #1,549 | 113 | 64.6 |
| 2022 | #1,487 | 122 | 69.9 |
| 2023 | #1,393 | 133 | 77.8 |
| 2024 | #1,372 | 137 | 79.5 |
| 2025 | #1,419 | 128 | 74.9 |
World rankings
Similar names
These 20 names were selected by our users looking for other names like Lenny.
- Rigby
- Ward
- Hughes
- Moore
- Griff
- Barnes
- Gibson
- Jeb
- Tad
- Redford
- Whitman
- Bristow
- Bingham
- Lonnie
- Morrison
- Maxfield
- Cass
- Kirby
- Sal
- Dez
Lenny on lists
Famous Lennys
- Lenny Bruce (born Leonard Alfred Schneider)
American comedian
- Leonard Albert "Lenny" Kravitz
American singer/song writer
- Lenworth George "Lenny" Henry
English actor/comedian
- Lenny Castro
American session musician
- Leonard Randolph "Lenny" Wilkens
American basketball player
- Leonard "Lenny" White III
American jazz fusion drummer
- Lenny Kaye
American guitarist of the Patti Smith Group
- Leonard Kyle "Lenny" Dykstra
American baseball player
- Lenny Federer (b. 2014)
son of Swiss professional tennis player Roger Federer
- Lenny Jane Wood (b. 2018)
daughter of YouTube family vloggers Carlie and Jackson Wood (WhatsUpWoods & CarlieStylez)
Lenny in pop culture
- Lenny
character in Neil Simon's "Rumors"
- Leonard "Lenny" Feder
character in movie "Grown Ups"
- Leonard "Lenny" Kosnowski
character on TV's 'Laverne & Shirley'
- Lenford "Lenny" Leonard
character on TV's "The Simpsons"
- ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°) or "Le Lenny Face
" an Internet meme