Henny

Henny has more than one established family connection. In Dutch and related European use, it can be a familiar form of Hendrik, Hendrika, or Henrietta, bringing the old Germanic meaning home ruler. In Jewish naming, Henny can also belong with forms of Hannah, whose Hebrew meaning is grace or favor.

Those histories explain why the short name may have different meanings in different families. A Henny honoring a Henrietta is part of the Henry family, while a Henny linked with Hannah carries another ancestry. The name has been used for boys as well as girls in Dutch contexts, so the longer form and the family's language provide more useful background than the short spelling alone.