Why is it such a big secret? Does the rest of the friends know her name and the audience doesn't? I just don't get the big secret especially after all these seasons.

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In all the episodes of The Big Bang Theory I have watched, Penny's last name has never been revealed. It's probably a mystery that will never be solved.

In all the episodes of The Big Bang Theory I have watched, Penny's last name has never been revealed. It's probably a mystery that will never be solved.


Interesting, I wonder why?

I'm betting it'll be something horrid, and possibly the reason why she can't find acting work, haha! I'm guessing it'll be revealed in the series finale, or if her and Leonard ever tie the knot...

I'm betting it'll be something horrid, and possibly the reason why she can't find acting work, haha! I'm guessing it'll be revealed in the series finale, or if her and Leonard ever tie the knot...


So she is keeping it secret from the rest of the group?

i assume the rest of the characters know Penny's last name, but I am sure there will eventually be an amusing story about it, for now it is just another lovable quirk to enjoy about the show.

I had never noticed that her last name had not been revealed before reading this thread...interesting...

I think the guys do know her last name because they've picked up her mail for her when she went out of town.

I really thought they would reveal it when Penny's dad came to visit last season. Leonard would've called him "Mr. Whatever", but he called him by his first name. That seemed like a deliberate attempt to keep Penny's last name a secret because the guys refer to their friends parents as Mrs.Cooper, Mrs. Wolowitz, etc.

Interesting, I wonder why?

It's The Big Bang Theory's trademark mystery, in a similar manner to how we don't know which state contains Springfield in The Simpsons, why you never see Wilson's face on Home Improvement, or why we never see Norm's wife Vera on Cheers.

I don't think Penny's last name will ever be revealed, in my opinion.

It's The Big Bang Theory's trademark mystery, in a similar manner to how we don't know which state contains Springfield in The Simpsons, why you never see Wilson's face on Home Improvement, or why we never see Norm's wife Vera on Cheers.

I don't think Penny's last name will ever be revealed, in my opinion.

Exactly! I've always thought it would be interesting if she was related to Maralyin Monroe:D

It's The Big Bang Theory's trademark mystery, in a similar manner to how we don't know which state contains Springfield in The Simpsons, why you never see Wilson's face on Home Improvement, or why we never see Norm's wife Vera on Cheers.

I don't think Penny's last name will ever be revealed, in my opinion.

Or like how Gilligan's first name was never revealed, except now we know that it was 'Willie'.

I'm hoping 'Hofstadter' becomes Penny's last name, lol

It's The Big Bang Theory's trademark mystery, in a similar manner to how we don't know which state contains Springfield in The Simpsons, why you never see Wilson's face on Home Improvement, or why we never see Norm's wife Vera on Cheers.

I don't think Penny's last name will ever be revealed, in my opinion.

Yeah TV has done this before. If you remember you never found out the last name of the family on according to jim. Plus the unseen character has been used alot too. Other examples are Maris on Frazier and Peg Bundy's Mother On MWC :)

Or like how Gilligan's first name was never revealed, except now we know that it was 'Willie'.

I'm hoping 'Hofstadter' becomes Penny's last name, lol


Well maybe it will be revealed soon since she is back in school

I would also like them to show the brother that Sheldon has as well as Leonard's siblings. Weird that they haven't made an appearance by now.

I would also like them to show the brother that Sheldon has as well as Leonard's siblings. Weird that they haven't made an appearance by now.


I don't think fans need to see Leonard's brother, now a relative of Sheldon is a must see:lol:

While browsing around this board, I came upon this old thread. I wonder if Penny's last name is Nichols? ;)

I find it odd that Penny would give 2 seconds to any of these egotistical child like characters who while they can be considered a genius, mentally in relationships they are 10 years old.
(But then on 3's company they never had sex, yet here all of them seem to, some quite often).

In real life, wouldn't Penny be so out of reach for them? (at least in her own mind). Of course, this being a show directed/produced by you know who, of course that little fact is overlooked, but it is highly unlikely nor typical of real life
(as all his shows are).

(As if Penny were say Marilyn Monroe. Would Marilyn have given Sheldon or Leonard or any of them the time of day?)

Penny is nothing special, she's blonde and that's about it for what makes her attractive. Other than that, she's a hot mess.

I find it odd that Penny would give 2 seconds to any of these egotistical child like characters who while they can be considered a genius, mentally in relationships they are 10 years old.
(But then on 3's company they never had sex, yet here all of them seem to, some quite often).

In real life, wouldn't Penny be so out of reach for them? (at least in her own mind). Of course, this being a show directed/produced by you know who, of course that little fact is overlooked, but it is highly unlikely nor typical of real life
(as all his shows are).


(As if Penny were say Marilyn Monroe. Would Marilyn have given Sheldon or Leonard or any of them the time of day?)


It's a sitcom, not a documentary. ;)

The most unrealistic thing about this show is an attractive woman chatting 3 nerds who live across the hall


In real life she would not say one word to any of them lol

If you freeze-frame on any of the mail in her apartment, none of that reveals her surname either. I like that they're not making a thing of it, unlike that dumbass neighbour on "Home Improvement".

I'm betting it'll be something horrid, and possibly the reason why she can't find acting work, haha! I'm guessing it'll be revealed in the series finale, or if her and Leonard ever tie the knot...
I bet her last name is Pinscher.

If we ever find out, I have a feeling it won't be until the final episode or when she and Leonard get married, whichever comes first.