Penelope - girls name

Penelope name popularity, meaning and origin

Name Popularity: 99%

Penelope name meaning:

The name Penelope is of Greek origin and holds a rich history and meaning. In Greek mythology, Penelope was the faithful wife of Odysseus, the hero of Homer's epic poem, "The Odyssey." Known for her loyalty and cleverness, Penelope waited patiently for her husband's return from the Trojan War for twenty years, fending off suitors who sought her hand in marriage. The name Penelope has come to symbolize faithfulness, resilience, and intelligence.

Derived from the Greek word "pene" meaning "weft" and "ops" meaning "face" or "eye," Penelope can be interpreted as "weaver" or "one who weaves." This name highlights Penelope's resourcefulness and skill in maintaining her household during her husband's absence. Penelope is also associated with endurance and loyalty, as she remained loyal to her husband and never gave up hope of his return.

Overall, the name Penelope carries a profound meaning of strength, intelligence, and faithfulness, inspired by the character from Greek mythology who exemplified these qualities.

Origin: Gaelic

Variant of Fenella: White shoulder. From Fionnghuala or Fionnuala.

Related names

Fenella , Nolana, Nuala , Penelope

Other girls names beginning with P

Statistics

Overall UK ranking: 38 out of 5581

1194 recorded births last year

Change in rank

  • 10yrs

    217
  • 5yrs

    25
  • 1yr

    6

    Regional popularity

    Ranking for this name in various UK regions

  • Wales (34)
  • England (38)
  • Scotland (81)

Historical popularity of Penelope

The graph below shows the popularity of the girls's name Penelope from all the UK baby name statistics available. It's a quick easy way to see the trend for Penelope in 2024