Pinkney
About Pinkney
Pinkney is a masculine name derived from an Old English surname that originally referred to someone from a place with many 'pink' flowers or from a hill covered in pinks (a type of flower). The name blends history with natural imagery, though it remains quite rare as a first name. In the American South, Pinkney has occasionally been used as a given name since the 19th century, often honoring family surnames. Notable bearers include American politicians and military figures from earlier centuries. While uncommon today, it offers a distinctive option for parents interested in surname-as-first-name traditions or seeking to honor family lineage.
Pronounced PINK-nee.
As of October 2026, Pinkney ranked #3834 in US births in 1958 SSA, peaked at #520 in 1891.
AI-written. Reviewed by Pamela Redmond
Sources: US popularity data is from the Social Security Administration. Meanings and origins are from Nameberry's name references.
Popularity & trends
Data table
| Year | US rank | Births | Per million |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | — | 0 | 0 |
| 2015 | — | 0 | 0 |
| 2016 | — | 0 | 0 |
| 2017 | — | 0 | 0 |
| 2018 | — | 0 | 0 |
| 2019 | — | 0 | 0 |
| 2020 | — | 0 | 0 |
| 2021 | — | 0 | 0 |
| 2022 | — | 0 | 0 |
| 2023 | — | 0 | 0 |
| 2024 | — | 0 | 0 |
| 2025 | — | 0 | 0 |
Pinkney on lists
Famous Pinkneys
- Pinkney "Pink" Anderson
American blues singer and guitarist
- Pinkney Lugenbeel
U.S. Army colonel
- Pinkney L. Near
American art curator
- Pinkney H. Walker
American jurist