Penelope Name Meaning, Origin and Popularity
Penelope is predominantly used for girls. The statistics below show this exact spelling in official U.S. records.
How Do You Spell Penelope?
Penelope is spelled P-E-N-E-L-O-P-E. The name has 8 letters.
Penelope at a Glance
- Usage
- Predominantly used for girls
- Meaning
- Penelope is commonly associated with the meaning “weaver” or “duck” from Greek origins, though exact etymology is uncertain.
- Origin
- Penelope is a name of Greek origin connected to the figure featured in Homer's Odyssey.
- Pronunciation
- peh-NEL-oh-pee · 4 syllables
Penelope Popularity in 2025
Rank#22
Recorded Births6,225
- Girls usage rose 6 places to #22 and recorded 465 more births compared with 2024.
Figures reflect this exact spelling in the latest available U.S. Social Security Administration records. See the complete year-by-year trend.
What Does the Name Penelope Mean?
Penelope is commonly associated with the meaning “weaver” or “duck” from Greek origins, though exact etymology is uncertain.
Origin: Penelope is a name of Greek origin connected to the figure featured in Homer's Odyssey.
How Do You Pronounce Penelope?
Pronunciationpeh-NEL-oh-pee
Syllables4
What Is the History of the Name Penelope?
- History
- The name Penelope is known from ancient Greek literature, particularly the Odyssey, where Penelope is the wife of Odysseus; its use as a given name has continued into modern times.
- Cultural notes
- Penelope is symbolically linked to faithfulness and patience, inspired by the character in Greek mythology who was loyal while awaiting Odysseus's return.
Penelope Popularity by Year
The table below shows the most recent available records for this exact spelling from 2010 through 2025. Use the full history page to explore every recorded year.
| Year | Usage Category | Recorded Births | National Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Girls | 6,225 | #22 |
| 2024 | Girls | 5,760 | #28 |
| 2024 | Boys | 6 | #10,938 |
| 2023 | Girls | 6,068 | #23 |
| 2022 | Girls | 6,430 | #21 |
| 2022 | Boys | 5 | #12,330 |
| 2021 | Girls | 6,370 | #23 |
| 2021 | Boys | 10 | #7,587 |
| 2020 | Girls | 6,152 | #26 |
| 2020 | Boys | 5 | #12,022 |
| 2019 | Girls | 6,734 | #22 |
| 2018 | Girls | 6,524 | #26 |
| 2018 | Boys | 7 | #9,670 |
| 2017 | Girls | 6,668 | #24 |
| 2017 | Boys | 6 | #10,775 |
| 2016 | Girls | 6,400 | #27 |
| 2016 | Boys | 9 | #8,146 |
| 2015 | Girls | 5,953 | #34 |
| 2015 | Boys | 5 | #12,086 |
| 2014 | Girls | 5,089 | #43 |
| 2013 | Girls | 4,292 | #56 |
| 2012 | Girls | 2,536 | #125 |
| 2011 | Girls | 1,871 | #168 |
| 2010 | Girls | 1,547 | #200 |
When Was Penelope Most Popular?
Peak years are based on the highest recorded birth totals for this exact spelling and usage category. They are ordered by birth count, not chronologically.
2019 · Girls
6,734 recorded births
National rank #22
2017 · Girls
6,668 recorded births
National rank #24
2018 · Girls
6,524 recorded births
National rank #26
2022 · Girls
6,430 recorded births
National rank #21
Where Penelope Ranked Highest in 2025
State rankings are calculated separately for girls and boys within each state. The SSA omits state-level names recorded fewer than five times, so low visible counts can still represent a relatively high state rank.
Top States for Girls
| State | Rank | Recorded Births |
|---|---|---|
| AK | #5 | 24 |
| OR | #9 | 98 |
| CT | #12 | 84 |
| IL | #15 | 255 |
| KS | #15 | 77 |
| NH | #16 | 37 |
| OH | #17 | 258 |
| AZ | #18 | 174 |