Danny Boy

Popularity: #544 · Trend: ↘ Falling

Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: DAN-ee //ˈdæni//

Origin: Hebrew; Irish; English

Meaning: Hebrew: God is my judge; Irish: diminutive of Daniel; English: variant of Daniel

Historical & Cultural Background

The name Danny is derived from the Hebrew name Daniel, which means "God is my judge." The etymology traces back to the Hebrew דָּנִיֵּאל (Daniyyel), composed of the elements "dan" (to judge) and "el" (God). This name was adopted into Greek as Δανιήλ (Daniēl) and subsequently into Latin as Daniel, before making its way into Old French as Daniel, and finally into Middle English.

The diminutive form Danny emerged as a familiar or affectionate variant of Daniel, particularly in English-speaking contexts. Historically, the name Daniel is significant in biblical texts, notably in the Book of Daniel, which dates back to the 6th century BCE.

This book recounts the life of Daniel, a Jewish exile in Babylon, who is known for his wisdom and ability to interpret dreams. The name gained prominence in Christian contexts through its inclusion in the Old Testament and later translations, such as the King James Bible in 1611, which further solidified its usage in English-speaking cultures.

Throughout the Middle Ages and into the Renaissance, the name Daniel was borne by various saints and scholars, enhancing its cultural resonance. Culturally, the name Danny, as a diminutive, has been associated with qualities of strength, wisdom, and divine judgment, reflecting the attributes of its biblical namesake.

The name has also been embraced in various literary and artistic works, contributing to its lasting significance. In folklore and popular culture, figures named Danny often embody traits of resilience and moral integrity, reinforcing the name's positive connotations.

Overall, the evolution of Danny from its Hebrew roots through various linguistic transformations highlights its enduring appeal and rich historical background.

Famous people named Danny

In this section, you will find notable people named Danny. We include individuals across a wide range of fields, including actors known for their work in film, television, and stage productions. You'll also find musicians, directors, and other public figures named Danny who have made a significant impact on popular culture.

We also feature individuals named Danny who have made meaningful contributions to science, politics, athletics, literature, and other areas of public interest.

Please note that not every baby name in our database currently has a famous namesake listed. If you would like to suggest a name we may have missed or submit a correction, feel free to contact us. We review and finalize additions and corrections within 24 hours.

Danny DeVito is an actor, director, and producer best known for Taxi, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, and It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia.

Danny Glover is an actor and director best known for Lethal Weapon, The Color Purple, and Angels in the Outfield.

Danny Boyle is a director and producer best known for Slumdog Millionaire, Trainspotting, and 127 Hours.

Danny Elfman is a composer and musician best known for The Nightmare Before Christmas, Batman, and Spider-Man.

Danny Trejo is an actor and producer best known for Machete, Desperado, and From Dusk Till Dawn.

Danny Kaye is an actor, singer, and comedian best known for White Christmas, The Court Jester, and Hans Christian Andersen.

Danny McBride is an actor, writer, and producer best known for Eastbound & Down, Vice Principals, and This Is the End.

Danny Ainge is a former professional basketball player and executive best known for his time with the Boston Celtics and as a coach for the team.

Danny Amendola is a professional American football player best known for his time with the New England Patriots and Miami Dolphins.

Danny Pino is an actor best known for his roles in Law & Order: Special Victims Unit and The Shield.

Fictional characters named Danny

The following list of fictional characters named Danny is a work in progress. If you would like to suggest an additional character, please send us the character's name along with a brief, one-sentence description of what they are best known for.

You may also submit corrections, which we will review and update as quickly as possible.

Danny Torrance is a fictional character from the novel and film The Shining. He is a young boy with psychic abilities known as the 'shining' that allow him to see the terrifying events occurring in the haunted hotel.

Danny Zuko is a fictional character from the musical and film Grease. He is a high school greaser who navigates romance and friendship during the summer and the school year.

Sibling suggestions

If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Danny, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.

DavidDanielDylanDerekDominicDustin

Similar names

Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Danny. These names can serve as alternatives to the sibling suggestions listed above and may help you find the perfect complementary name for your growing family.

DonnyRandyJohnnyBennyTobyMannyLennyTony

U.S. Historical Usage

The name Danny was first seen in the United States in 1900.

Danny has ranked as high as #83 nationally, which occurred in 1954, and has been most popular in California, Texas, Ohio, North Carolina, and Tennessee.

In the past 5 years the name Danny has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.

Popularity Over Time (National)

The name Danny is part of our comprehensive baby names database, which includes Social Security Administration (SSA) data dating back to 1880—the first official year of state and national tracking. The chart below shows when Danny was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.

Popularity Over Time (National) — Table

We track the national popularity of each baby name annually. The table below displays each year along with the number of births reported by the Social Security Administration. This data combines all state-level reporting from the SSA's baby names database to provide a comprehensive view of overall birth counts for Danny.

Year Total Births Boy Girl
2025 462 445 17
2024 451 440 11
2023 488 473 15
2022 471 456 15
2021 534 517 17
2020 508 494 14
2019 557 546 11
2018 537 525 12
2017 588 577 11
2016 653 641 12
2015 724 715 9
2014 717 710 7
2013 773 762 11
2012 787 774 13
2011 868 863 5
2010 1,010 1,000 10
2009 1,020 1,003 17
2008 1,005 995 10
2007 1,074 1,064 10
2006 1,079 1,074 5
2005 1,058 1,050 8
2004 1,053 1,039 14
2003 1,089 1,083 6
2002 1,170 1,160 10
2001 1,020 1,020 0
2000 1,066 1,059 7
1999 1,075 1,069 6
1998 1,067 1,057 10
1997 1,153 1,140 13
1996 1,219 1,206 13
1995 1,271 1,259 12
1994 1,291 1,279 12
1993 1,437 1,422 15
1992 1,637 1,623 14
1991 1,862 1,845 17
1990 1,933 1,919 14
1989 1,927 1,911 16
1988 1,923 1,902 21
1987 1,862 1,846 16
1986 1,930 1,913 17
1985 2,035 2,015 20
1984 2,025 2,000 25
1983 2,041 2,019 22
1982 2,059 2,045 14
1981 2,109 2,094 15
1980 2,285 2,267 18
1979 2,274 2,258 16
1978 2,228 2,209 19
1977 2,457 2,437 20
1976 2,527 2,494 33
1975 2,771 2,740 31
1974 2,889 2,859 30
1973 3,202 3,181 21
1972 3,338 3,306 32
1971 3,639 3,611 28
1970 3,799 3,768 31
1969 4,052 4,010 42
1968 4,012 3,984 28
1967 4,334 4,310 24
1966 4,741 4,721 20
1965 5,705 5,675 30
1964 6,502 6,476 26
1963 7,129 7,101 28
1962 7,682 7,644 38
1961 8,235 8,199 36
1960 8,639 8,611 28
1959 8,769 8,727 42
1958 8,968 8,934 34
1957 8,855 8,820 35
1956 8,594 8,565 29
1955 8,746 8,721 25
1954 9,126 9,103 23
1953 8,653 8,627 26
1952 8,858 8,821 37
1951 8,205 8,179 26
1950 8,159 8,143 16
1949 8,048 8,023 25
1948 8,030 8,009 21
1947 8,090 8,069 21
1946 6,667 6,650 17
1945 4,195 4,175 20
1944 3,523 3,511 12
1943 2,911 2,898 13
1942 2,212 2,203 9
1941 1,656 1,644 12
1940 1,484 1,479 5
1939 1,280 1,271 9
1938 1,217 1,208 9
1937 1,031 1,022 9
1936 764 758 6
1935 670 670 0
1934 610 604 6
1933 508 502 6
1932 423 423 0
1931 397 387 10
1930 395 390 5
1929 319 314 5
1928 288 277 11
1927 209 209 0
1926 231 223 8
1925 182 174 8
1924 126 126 0
1923 124 124 0
1922 108 108 0
1921 102 102 0
1920 90 90 0
1919 77 77 0
1918 77 72 5
1917 64 64 0
1916 43 43 0
1915 39 39 0
1914 28 28 0
1913 33 33 0
1912 14 14 0
1911 9 9 0
1910 10 10 0
1909 10 10 0
1908 8 8 0
1907 7 7 0
1905 5 5 0
1904 7 7 0
1903 5 5 0
1902 9 9 0
1901 8 8 0
1900 7 7 0

Top States for Danny (2024)

We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. The table below shows the five states with the highest number of births for this name in the selected year. Use the toggle to expand the list to every state with reported births.

State Births Share
CA 72
18%
TX 58
15%
FL 23
6%
OH 22
6%
GA 21
5%
NY 15
4%
NC 12
3%
TN 11
3%
WA 11
3%
PA 11
3%
IL 10
3%
OK 10
3%
MI 9
2%
OR 9
2%
AL 8
2%
UT 8
2%
AR 8
2%
KY 8
2%
AZ 8
2%
MO 7
2%
IN 7
2%
VA 7
2%
MD 7
2%
NJ 7
2%
NE 6
2%
LA 6
2%
KS 5
1%
CO 5
1%
MN 5
1%