Penelope
Penelope Name Meaning, Origin & Popularity
peh-NEL-oh-pee
Meaning of Penelope: Penelope derives from Ancient Greek Pēnelópē, a name of disputed but closely related etymologies. The most accepted analysis connects it to pēnē (thread, bobbin) and lóps (face, appearance)—suggesting one whose face is veiled, or metaphorically, the weaver.
A secondary reading links the first element to pēne, a kind of woven cloth, reinforcing the textile imagery.
In Homer’s Odyssey, Penelope is the wife of Odysseus, famously loyal through his 20-year absence. She kept her suitors at bay by weaving a shroud during the day and unraveling it each night—a stratagem that gave her name its lasting association with patience and fidelity.
What Does Penelope Mean? Origin & Etymology
According to etymology records, the name entered English use via Latin and medieval literary transmission of Homeric texts.
According to SSA records, Penelope entered the US top 100 in 2013 and rose steadily to its peak at rank 21 in 2022 with over 6,200 births that year.
As of 2024, it ranks #28 with 5,741 registered births. The Spanish-speaking community has embraced Penelope particularly warmly, partly through association with actress Pénelope Cruz.
Pénelope Cruz, born 1974 in Spain, gave the Anglicized Penelope a glamorous contemporary profile when she became Hollywood’s first Spanish actress to win an Academy Award in 2009. Kourtney Kardashian named her daughter Penelope in 2012—a highly publicized choice that registered immediately in SSA naming statistics the following year.
Common nicknames include Penny (the most widespread), Nell, Nellie, Pip, and Poppy. Spanish speakers often use Penelope without shortening it. Variants include Pénelope (Spanish/French with accent), Penelopy (rare spelling), and Pernille (Danish cognate). There is no widely used masculine equivalent in English.
How Popular Is Penelope?
Numerology & Symbolism of Penelope
Based on Pythagorean numerology — a traditional system linking name letters to numbers. Presented for cultural interest.
Penelope – Similar Names & Alternatives
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Frequently Asked Questions about Penelope
What does Penelope mean?
Penelope means weaver or thread on a bobbin, from Ancient Greek pēnē (thread) and lóps (face). The name carries the mythological meaning of patient fidelity from Homer’s Odyssey, where Penelope waited 20 years for Odysseus.
Where does the name Penelope come from?
Penelope comes from Ancient Greek, where it was the name of Odysseus’s wife in Homer’s Odyssey. The name entered English through Latin transmission of classical texts and has been in continuous use in English-speaking countries since the Renaissance.
How popular is Penelope in the US?
Penelope ranks #28 for girls in the US in 2024, according to SSA records, with 5,741 registered births. It peaked at rank #21 in 2022. Its rise to the top 30 accelerated after 2012, when Kourtney Kardashian gave the name to her daughter.
What are common nicknames for Penelope?
What are variants of Penelope across languages?
Variants include Pénelope (Spanish and French, with accent), Penelopy (rare English spelling), and Pernille (Danish cognate). In Greek the classical form is Pēnelópē. There is no widely used masculine equivalent in English.
Penelope – Name Variants & Spellings
| Variant | Language |
|---|---|
| Penny | English diminutive |
| Penelopa | Greek/Slavic |
| Pelope | Short form |
| Penelopie | Spelling variant |