Fun Facts About the Name Hennessy
- More than 1 thousand babies named Hennessy: U.S. records list 1,630 babies given the name Hennessy from 1880 through 2025. Even 62 boys received the name Hennessy - about 1 boy for every 25 girls.
What Does the Name Hennessy Mean?
Hennessy is an Anglicized Irish surname, from Gaelic Ó hAonghusa, which means "descendant of Aonghus." The root is the personal name Aonghus, earlier Old Irish Óengus. That name is usually explained as óen "one" plus gus, a word that can mean "choice" or "strength"; the exact sense is uncertain. In Ó hAonghusa, the Ó marks descent, and the h is a grammatical prefix used before a vowel. The surname therefore identifies a family as descendants of a man named Aonghus; it does not itself mean "choice" or "strength."
Hennessy Name History & Origins
The surname Ó hAonghusa belongs to the Gaelic Irish system of hereditary family names. It was formed from the personal name Aonghus with the prefix Ó, "descendant," and the genitive ending -a; because Aonghus begins with a vowel, the form is Ó hAonghusa. When Irish names were written in English, the prefix was often rendered as O', giving forms such as O'Hennessy. The initial O' was frequently dropped, leaving Hennessy. The spellings Hennessy and Hennessey both appear in English-language records.
The surname is found in Ireland, including County Cork. A notable bearer was Richard Hennessy (1724 - 1800), an Irishman who served in France and founded the Hennessy cognac house in 1765. The cognac brand is a modern commercial association with the name, not its origin. As a given name, Hennessy is a transferred use of the surname rather than a traditional Gaelic first name; the traditional given name behind it is Aonghus, anglicized as Angus.
How Popular is the Name Hennessy?
Hennessy has historically been an exceptionally rare given name in the United States, remaining well outside the national mainstream. It saw its highest recorded annual births in 2019. Its best rank was #2,239 in 2019.
U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #3,936 | 37 | 0.0023% |
| 2024 | #3,524 | 44 | 0.0027% |
| 2023 | #3,864 | 39 | 0.0024% |
| 2022 | #2,640 | 66 | 0.0040% |
| 2021 | #2,599 | 67 | 0.0041% |
| 2020 | #3,035 | 53 | 0.0033% |
| 2019 | #2,239 | 82 | 0.0049% |
| 2018 | #2,422 | 74 | 0.0044% |
| 2017 | #3,452 | 45 | 0.0026% |
| 2016 | #3,544 | 44 | 0.0025% |
| 2015 | #3,940 | 38 | 0.0021% |
| 2014 | #3,290 | 49 | 0.0027% |
| 2013 | #2,780 | 62 | 0.0035% |
| 2012 | #2,986 | 57 | 0.0032% |
| 2011 | #2,811 | 62 | 0.0035% |
| 2010 | #2,568 | 71 | 0.0040% |
| 2009 | #2,454 | 78 | 0.0042% |
| 2008 | #2,643 | 70 | 0.0037% |
| 2007 | #3,069 | 57 | 0.0030% |
| 2006 | #2,491 | 74 | 0.0039% |
| 2005 | #2,711 | 62 | 0.0034% |
| 2004 | #2,937 | 54 | 0.0029% |
| 2003 | #3,058 | 49 | 0.0027% |
| 2002 | #3,482 | 39 | 0.0022% |
| 2001 | #3,332 | 41 | 0.0023% |
| 2000 | #3,761 | 34 | 0.0019% |
| 1999 | #4,007 | 29 | 0.0016% |
| 1998 | #4,700 | 23 | 0.0013% |
| 1997 | #5,710 | 17 | 0.0010% |
| 1996 | #6,869 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 1995 | #4,907 | 20 | 0.0011% |
| 1994 | #10,979 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1993 | #12,340 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1991 | #13,949 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | #11,397 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2018 | #11,291 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2016 | #11,225 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2015 | #12,781 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2007 | #10,161 | 7 | 0.0003% |
| 2001 | #9,711 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1999 | #10,516 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1998 | #7,889 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1997 | #7,578 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1996 | #7,432 | 7 | 0.0004% |
Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.
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How the Name Hennessy Shapes Your Personality and Life?
You attract success and money. You are a lover of nature and do not need others for your happiness. You are self sufficient. You strive for material success and power and have business sense. You possess strong organizational abilities, can be a good manager, and executive by nature. You are capable of great achievement in business and finance. You have an eventful, exciting life. You are versatile and have the ability to learn easily.
You are always looking for a chance to do your own thing, to be your own person, and to have things done your own way.
✦ Hennessy's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Hennessy's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.