Girl · #8,884 in 2026

Pennelope

Name: Popularity of the name Pennelope in U.S. births, 1880–2026
Creator: U.S. Social Security Administration
License: https://www.ssa.gov/foia/
Keywords: Pennelope, baby name, popularity, U.S., SSA, rankings

Current Rank

#8,884

Peak Rank

#3,201 (2017)

Total Babies

407

5-Yr Trend

-44%

1942

First Year

2026

Last Year

2017

Peak Year

#3201

Peak Rank

407

Total Count

Years Active

The Story of Pennelope

Pennelope first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a baby girl name in 1942, with 5 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 2017, when 30 Pennelopes were born — ranking #4,572 that year. As of 2026, Pennelope ranks #8,884 for baby girls with 10 births, falling sharply (-44%). In total, more than 407 Pennelopes have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1940s through the 2020s.

Popularity Over Time

Popularity by State

Top 10

11-50

51-100

101-500

500+

No data

Names that sound like Pennelope

Phonetically similar names — useful when Pennelope is the vibe but a different syllable count or letter feel might suit better. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.

Penelope
Pennella
Pinelli
Panella
Penally
Pomelo
Pummelo
Pinilla
Bonello
Penalty
Pennel
Pinellas

Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.

Frequently Asked Questions about Pennelope

What does the name Pennelope mean?

Pennelope is a girl's name that has been used in U.S. records since 1942. Behind the Name doesn't list a specific etymology, but the name has remained in use across multiple decades.

How popular is Pennelope in 2026?

In 2026, Pennelope ranks #8,884 among girls' names in the U.S., with 10 babies given the name that year.

When was Pennelope most popular?

Pennelope reached its peak popularity in 2017, ranking #3,201 that year with 30 babies given the name.

In which U.S. states is Pennelope most popular?

Pennelope has historically been most popular in Texas, California. Rankings vary year to year, but these states show the strongest concentration of births named Pennelope.

Is Pennelope a unisex name?

In U.S. Social Security records, Pennelope is primarily a girl's name. We don't have meaningful data for it as a boy's name.

What names go well with Pennelope?

Names that share a similar style or popularity range with Pennelope include Ree, Regis, Kathrene. These pairings are based on rank proximity and naming era in U.S. data.

About the name Pennelope

Pennelope is a girl baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1942 and has accumulated 407 births in the dataset. Pennelope's peak popularity came in 2017 when it ranked #3,201. Use the chart and map above to compare Pennelope's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.

Continue exploring

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.