Penelope
Gender: Girl
Meaning: Weaver; bobbin worker
Origin: Greek — from pene (thread, bobbin) + ops (face, eye); possibly also connected to the Greek for duck
Popularity: Ranked #22 in 2025 with 6,225 babies born.
History: Penelope is the faithful wife of Odysseus in Homer's Odyssey — for twenty years she waited for her husband's return, cleverly outwitting her suitors by weaving a shroud by day and unraveling it by night. Her name became synonymous with loyalty, intelligence, and quiet strength. The name was rarely used in modern America until the 2000s, when it began a steady climb, entering the top 25 by 2013. Penélope Cruz gave it a glamorous international dimension. Penny is its irresistibly sweet nickname, giving it remarkable range from playful to elegant.
Famous people named Penelope: Penélope Cruz (actress), Penelope Garcia (Criminal Minds), Penelope (Greek mythology)
Name length: 8 letters
How common is Penelope? About 1 in 535 babies born in 2025 were named Penelope, or roughly 17.1 per day in the United States.
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Frequently asked about Penelope
What does the name Penelope mean?
Penelope means “Weaver; bobbin worker” from Greek — from pene (thread, bobbin) + ops (face, eye); possibly also connected to the Greek for duck roots.
What is the origin of the name Penelope?
Penelope has Greek — from pene (thread, bobbin) + ops (face, eye); possibly also connected to the Greek for duck origin. The traditional meaning is “Weaver; bobbin worker”.
How popular is Penelope?
Penelope ranked #22 in 2025 — given to 6,225 babies that year.
When was Penelope most popular?
Penelope peaked in 2019 with 6,733 babies registered that year.
Is Penelope a boy or girl name?
Penelope is predominantly a girls' name — over 90% of Penelopes in registered births are female.
How long has Penelope been recorded?
Penelope appears in birth records across 132 years — from 1880 through 2025.