Penelope
Penelope, often used in reference to Homer's character, is a female first name of Greek origin. Its meaning is uncertain, but may derive from the Greek word penelops, which means duck or refers to another water fowl sacred to the Ancient Greeks. The name might also be derived from the Greek pene meaning web and either ops meaning eye or lepo, meaning unraveled, implying the meaning weaver.
Meaning & Origin of Penelope
What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.
Penelope, often used in reference to Homer's character, is a female first name of Greek origin. Its meaning is uncertain, but may derive from the Greek word penelops, which means duck or refers to another water fowl sacred to the Ancient Greeks. The name might also be derived from the Greek pene meaning web and either ops meaning eye or lepo, meaning unraveled, implying the meaning weaver.
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →
The Story of Penelope
Penelope first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a baby girl name in 1880, with 5 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 2019, when 6,733 Penelopes were born — ranking #22 that year. As of 2026, Penelope ranks #27 for baby girls with 5,789 births, gradually falling (-8%). In total, more than 115K Penelopes have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1880s through the 2020s.
Popularity Over Time
Popularity by State
Notable people named Penelope
A small selection from Wikipedia. Tap "Read more" below to see the full list on Wikipedia.
- Penelope Aitken (1910–2005), English socialite
- Penelope Aubin , English novelist
- Penelope Austin , Australian singer-songwriter
- Pénélope Bagieu (born 1982), French illustrator and comic designer
- Penelope Blackmore (born 1984), Australian rhythmic gymnast
- Penelope Blount, Countess of Devonshire (1562–1607), English noblewoman
- Penelope Boothby (1785–1791), English famous child model in British art
- Penelope Boston , American speleologist
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →
Names that sound like Penelope
Phonetically similar names — useful when Penelope is the vibe but a different syllable count or letter feel might suit better. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.
- Panella
- Pinellas
- Panelling
- Pinelli
- Pennella
- Penology
- Panola
- Penalty
- Penality
- Penally
- Pinilla
- Penniless
Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.
Frequently Asked Questions about Penelope
What does the name Penelope mean?
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In which U.S. states is Penelope most popular?
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About the name Penelope
Penelope is a girl baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1880 and has accumulated 115K births in the dataset. Penelope's peak popularity came in 2019 when it ranked #21. Use the chart and map above to compare Penelope's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.
Continue exploring
- Top names of 2019 →
- Names of the 2010s →
- Names starting with "P" →
- Browse all girl names →
- Top names of 2026 →
Data sources
- Birth statistics (counts, ranks, years 1880–2026) — U.S. Social Security Administration . Predictions for years not yet released by SSA are computed by Peek a Name from historical trends; we update with official data as soon as it ships.
- Etymology, cultural origins, and related forms — Behind the Name (used under their public API terms).
- Meaning prose and editorial summary — Wikipedia article extracts, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 .
- Predicted nationality distribution — Nationalize.io .
- Phonetically similar names — Datamuse .
Peek a Name aggregates and presents the above data for informational purposes. Statistical predictions and external attributions are clearly labelled where shown; we make no guarantee of accuracy beyond what each source provides.