Diminutive of Henry or Henrietta, from Germanic 'heim' (home) and 'ric' (ruler).
Henny is a warm, familiar diminutive with roots stretching into several European naming traditions simultaneously. It most commonly derives from Henrietta or Johanna — both ultimately tracing back to the Germanic Heinrich ("home ruler") and the Hebrew Yochanan ("God is gracious") respectively — giving it a dual lineage that spans Teutonic nobility and biblical tradition. In Scandinavia and the Netherlands, Henny has long functioned as an affectionate standalone name rather than merely a nickname, used with confidence and without apology.
In the English-speaking world, the name's most beloved cultural ambassador may be Henny Youngman, the British-born American comedian whose one-liners made him the self-proclaimed "King of the One-Liners" through the mid-twentieth century. His catchphrase "Take my wife... please" became part of the fabric of American comedy.
Less comically, Henny Porten was one of the first great stars of German silent cinema, her luminous performances in the 1910s and 1920s making her a household name across Europe at a time when film was redefining celebrity. The name fell from fashion in English-speaking countries during the latter half of the twentieth century, when longer, more formal names were preferred, but Henny's cozy, vintage character has given it new appeal in an era that prizes names like Hetty, Bette, and Frankie. It carries an unpretentious cheer — a name that seems to belong to someone who laughs easily and means exactly what she says.