Penn Badgley Was Named After Tennis Balls

Some people inherit their names from long-deceased relatives. Others get named for famous writers, performers or athletes. But only a select few can boast about being named for an object dogs often adopt as their personal slobber receptacles. Dotspotter blogger, Grumps, has the detes…

Penn Badgley of Gossip Girl recently revealed to E!’s Daily 10 that he was actually named after “Penn” tennis balls.

Penn explains, “My father was bouncing a Penn tennis ball for stress during my mom’s pregnancy, and they couldn’t agree on a name, and when my mother got her first amnio, I’m not even sure what that is, she just casually mentioned that the baby is the size of that tennis ball, and that’s it. I’m glad it wasn’t Dunlop or Wilson.”

And when Penn was asked about his romance with Gossip Girl co-star Blake Lively, Penn says, “I understand it, obviously there’s chemistry there. She’s a great girl. … We have to draw a line, at some point, with our personal lives, because otherwise, ya know, when do people stop?”

Whatever you say balls.

PENN BADGLEY MIGHT HAVE A FUNNY NAME, BUT HE SURE IS CUTE!  FIND OUT MORE ABOUT HIM HERE!