Penelope

Updated: November 29, 2021 by MomsWhoThink Staff

Penelope is an adorable baby name that has been around since the story of “The Odyssey.” It was the name of Odysseus' wife in the story. The name remains a top 25 name for girls on the Social Security Index.

Meaning of the name Penelope:

Greek: weaver, “with a web over her face”

Origin of the name Penelope:

The baby name Penelope has two Greek origin stories. In one story, it comes from the Greek word “penelops” which is a kind of duck. For another story, however, it comes from the Greek word “pene” which means “thread of a bobbin.”

Symbolism of the name Penelope:

If Penelope comes from the word “pene,” it would make sense to mean weaver as these professionals work with thread. For the meaning related to a duck, it would be because Penelope in “The Odyssey” was raised by a duck.

Style of the name Penelope:

Classical

Gender of the name Penelope:

Penelope is a girl's name.

Pronunciation of the name Penelope:

pe-NEHL-e-pee

Number of syllables in the name Penelope:

Four

Emotion evoked from the name Penelope:

Penelope is a unique baby name that feels lighthearted, fun, and exuberant. It is a very wholesome name too, especially when paired with the nickname Penny.

Alternative spellings for the name Penelope:

Pennelope
Pennellope
Penellope
Penelopee

Nicknames for the name Penelope:

Pennie
Penny
Penni
Penn
Pen
Nelly
Nellie
Nell
Poppy

Popularity of the name Penelope:

The baby name Penelope has been on the top 1,000 list since 1922 at number 959. It became a top 100 name at number 56 in 2013, and a top 50 name as of the year 2014. In the year 2020, Penelope is a top 25 name ranking at exactly number 25.