Why is the Cent Called a Penny?

By GovMint :

The U.S. one-cent coin, commonly referred to as a "penny," takes its name from the British penny, a well-known and widely used coin during the colonial period. When the U.S. Mint was established in 1792, it began producing its own one-cent coins, which were initially larger and made of pure copper. The term "penny" was naturally adopted by Americans due to the British influence and the coin's similar role as a small denomination used in everyday transactions. This naming convention stuck, even though the official name for the U.S. coin is the "cent."

Sources Used:

https://kids.usmint.gov/about-the-mint/penny