Penny’s real surname remained a mystery when The Big Bang Theory ended. But, as it turns out, the show had already secretly revealed it very early on. As the only female character from the original sitcom, Kaley Cuoco’s character, Penny Teller, appeared in all twelve seasons of the CBS popular show. Although she seemed to stand out from her nerdy group of friends, she went through tremendous personal growth throughout those years – in her own way, she truly became one of the gang.

After moving to California as an aspiring actress, Penny experienced years of failed auditions and disappointing acting roles, eventually prompting her to give up on her Hollywood dreams. When season 8 started, she became a pharmaceutical sales representative working with Bernadette (Melissa Rauch). Despite her initial hesitation, she gradually rose through the ranks and appears to be perfectly content by the end of The Big Bang Theory. After all, both her personal and professional lives turned out great. While the show gave her a mostly satisfying ending with the revelation that she was expecting with Leonard, there is one mystery that the sitcom never outwardly resolved: the question of her last name.

Penny’s maiden name has been a pressing The Big Bang Theory query for years, and many expected that the finale would finally answer it. Unfortunately, despite the clamor for the detail, the showrunners decided to keep it a secret and maintain public curiosity even after the sitcom bowed out. Aside from this, they may have also come up with the decision because they have already revealed the information during the very early years of the sh0w. As spotted by u/Quell_Alma on Reddit, in The Big Bang Theory season 2, episode 18, “The Work Song Nanocluster,” Penny’s last name was Teller before she became a Hofstadter. In the episode, Penny Teller started a new business making flower barrettes and called it “Penny Blossoms.” At one point in the Big Bang Theory episode, Sheldon delivered a package of her materials, and in a blink-and-you-miss-it moment, her full name was shown printed on the box.

How Penny’s Hidden Surname Is Linked To The Big Bang Theory’s Creation

The significance behind her last name remained uncertain, but Penny Teller’s first name was decided even before the pilot for The Big Bang Theory was retooled to add Howard and Raj, with the show planned title being Lenny, Penny, and Kenny. The producers, however, decided to change “Kenny” to “Sheldon” to pay homage to one of the most prolific TV producers — the late Sheldon Leonard who was behind a string of hit series, most notably The Dick Van Dyke Show. Considering how Penny Teller sounds, it may have been a reference to American magicians Penn & Teller. Interestingly, Teller appeared in The Big Bang Theory playing Amy’s father in the final season of the show, and Penny pointed out how the Fowlers’ dynamic was similar to her and Leonard’s.

Was Penny’s Last Name Reveal In The Big Bang Theory Season 2 Intentional?

While Penny Hofstadter was revealed to be Penny Teller in The Big Bang Theory season 2, one has to wonder if this was intentional. It’s entirely possible that the show creators used the last name as a placeholder on the package, not even considering that anyone would bother to zoom in on the image. However, such a huge TBBT mystery was created surrounding Penny’s surname that it’s a wonder they’d let that season 2 reveal go unchecked. Ultimately, it’s unclear as to whether or not the revelation of Penny’s real last name was a purposeful inclusion from The Big Bang Theory creators or if it was just a coincidence due to the practical need for a last name on the package. Regardless, Penny’s last name changed from “Teller” to “Hofstadter” towards the end of the series when she and Leonard got married.

What’s curious with this incredible spot is whether The Big Bang Theory producers even remember including this detail back in season 2 (and forgetting the name would be on-brand given that Penny seemed to forget her own dad’s name in TBBT’s early seasons). At that point, though, the show was still starting to find its groove and build its fan base. When asked repeatedly, people involved in the show either claimed that Penny’s last name was a secret or that they didn’t have anything set in stone. Even Cuoco hoped that this particular information about her character would be revealed in its final season. Regardless, at least the mystery is now finally resolved.