Danny
Say it: DAN-ee/ˈdæni/
BoyMeans from Daniel, "God is my judge"5 letters2 syllables
#76
in Ireland (2025)
#79 with spellings combined
78
babies in 2025
#41
best rank (2021)
2,046
babies since 1970
Down 11
10-year rank change
Danny through the years
Compare with another name →Show the numbers
| Year | Babies (boys) | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 78 | #79 |
| 2024 | 79 | #77 |
| 2023 | 109 | #55 |
| 2022 | 110 | #61 |
| 2021 | 158 | #41 |
| 2020 | 101 | #67 |
| 2019 | 100 | #70 |
| 2018 | 94 | #74 |
| 2017 | 111 | #64 |
| 2016 | 100 | #70 |
| 2015 | 116 | #68 |
| 2014 | 100 | #79 |
| 2013 | 77 | #96 |
| 2012 | 88 | #92 |
| 2011 | 65 | #114 |
| 2010 | 63 | #114 |
| 2009 | 46 | #146 |
| 2008 | 50 | #141 |
| 2007 | 47 | #134 |
| 2006 | 39 | #137 |
| 2005 | 34 | #145 |
| 2004 | 27 | #156 |
| 2003 | 28 | #147 |
| 2002 | 15 | #200 |
| 2001 | 22 | #153 |
| 2000 | 10 | #214 |
| 1999 | 17 | #169 |
| 1998 | 15 | #168 |
| 1997 | 12 | #209 |
| 1996 | 10 | #223 |
| 1995 | 11 | #206 |
| 1994 | 11 | #192 |
| 1993 | 5 | #275 |
| 1992 | 15 | #180 |
| 1991 | 16 | #169 |
| 1990 | 5 | #256 |
| 1989 | 7 | #215 |
| 1988 | 7 | #215 |
| 1987 | 5 | #249 |
| 1986 | 8 | #217 |
| 1985 | 4 | #269 |
| 1984 | 4 | #274 |
| 1983 | 4 | #282 |
| 1982 | 4 | #286 |
| 1980 | 3 | #321 |
| 1979 | 4 | #292 |
| 1977 | 4 | #293 |
| 1973 | 5 | #268 |
| 1970 | 3 | #305 |
Source: CSO, Irish Babies' Names (VSA50, VSA60), CC BY 4.0.
★ What does Danny mean?
From Daniel, "God is my judge"
English, a pet form of Daniel, from Dan with the ending -y.
Say it right
DANee
The story of Danny
Danny is a pet form of Daniel, made from Dan with the familiar ending -y. Daniel is Hebrew and means “God is my judge”. It is the name of the prophet in the Old Testament’s Book of Daniel, the man thrown into the lions’ den. Danny can also be short for Danielle or Daniela, but in the CSO figures it appears only for boys.
For many people the name is tied to the song “Danny Boy”, with English words by Frederic Weatherly set to the Irish tune known as the Londonderry Air.
As a registered name Danny first reached the CSO list in 1970. It rose steadily from the 1990s and peaked in 2021 with 158 boys, when it was number 41. It has eased back a little since. In Northern Ireland its best year was 2015, when it was 67th.
Say it differently where you're from, or spotted something wrong? Tell us.
Sources
- Wiktionary: Danny (English proper noun)
- Wiktionary: Daniel (English proper noun)
- Wikipedia: Danny
- CSO VSA50, Boys Names in Ireland with 3 or More Occurrences
- NISRA, Baby Names in Northern Ireland
At a glance
Similar names
Sibling ideas
Spellings counted here
| Spelling | 2025 | All years |
|---|---|---|
| Danny | 78 | 2,046 |
In Northern Ireland
#103 in 2025 with 23 babies. Best rank #67 (2015); 644 babies since 1997.
Source: NISRA, Open Government Licence.