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© 2026 Namesake · namesake.baby

Data: Social Security Administration, US births 1880–2024

Penelope — Meaning, Origin & Popularity | Namesake
All names
Penellope|Penelopee
GreekGirl→ Stable

Penelope

puh-NEL-uh-pee · 4 syllables

Share Penelope:
Compare with another name
Girl
#28
→ Stable

Also ranked: Boy #11935 · → Stable

#28
in the US · 2024
Popularity score: 66
Peak rank
#21 in 2022
5yr change
-5 ranks
Birth frequency
15.9 per 10,000 births
Sex split
8% boy · 92% girl

Popularity Over Time

↑ Higher on this chart = more popular · ↓ Lower = less popular

Average0255075100Popularity score (0–100)20202024

Rank #28 · Stable since 2020

How Popular Is This Name?

Bars show the range of popularity for each group. The dot shows where this name sits. Further right = more popular.

All US girl names
Top 200 girl names
Greek girl names
Penelope

Popularity score: 66  ·  SSA Rank: #28

Rare  ·  Distinctive  ·  Familiar  ·  Common  ·  Very Common

Popularity score: 0 = least popular, 100 = most popular. Based on SSA rank.

Namesake Score
60
Classic name. Score reflects popularity — see Popularity tab for full context.
Combines uniqueness, trend, meaning, feasibility, and search interest.
Trend
→ Stable
-5 ranks
Based on SSA rank velocity
Feasibility
Unknown
— · — · —
Low friction, available
Uniqueness
40
0 per 10,000 births
Won't be common in class

Penelope scores well on meaning depth but there are tradeoffs — it's a well-known name in this region.

Meaning Depth37% of score
87
Name Trend28% of score
44
Uniqueness20% of score
40
Feasibility15% of score
50

Scores are percentile-ranked across 43,000+ names.

Name DNA
GreekMythologicalClassicLiteraryFeminine-leaningVintage4-syllableSoft sound
Character
clever resourcefulnesssteadfast patience
People with this name

Qualities shared by notable Penelopes

intellectualperceptiveversatileelegantthoughtful
STRONG
High confidence

Penelope is a Greek girl name with steady SSA rankings. It ranked #28 in the US in 2024.

Trend:→ Stable · -5 ranks
Feasibility:— · — · —
Popularity:#28 · common
Penelope at a Glance
Meaning:Weaver or duck. In Homer's Odyssey, Penelope was the faithful wife of Odysseus, known for her patience and cunning—she delayed remarrying by unraveling her weaving each night.
Language root:Ancient Greek
Peak rank:#21 in 2022
5yr change:-5 ranks
Sex usage:8% boy · 92% girl
Notable bearers
Penelope Gilliatt's son (if applicable)
rare male usage
Similar Sound
Piper◈PhoebePaisleyPeyton◈Poppy
Similar Style
OpheliaJosephineGenevieveAdelaideArabella
Works well with
Olive◈ClaraIrisHazelEleanorSophieTheo◈Oliver
You Might Also Like
Ophelia
Greek · #261
→ Stable
Josephine
Hebrew · #56
→ Stable
Genevieve
Celtic · #165
→ Stable
Adelaide
Germanic · #271
→ Stable
Arabella
Latin · #206
→ Stable
Sophia
Greek · #6
→ Stable
Source: Social Security Administration baby names data. Popularity data reflects US births. Feasibility data updated monthly.
Penelope illustration
Name Intelligence
Penelope · Overview
Summary

Penelope is a Greek girl name with steady SSA rankings. It ranked #28 in the US in 2024.

Strengths
Strong fundamentals
Penelope scores 60/100 on the Namesake scale — meaning, origin, and trend all contribute positively.
Mythological · Classic · Literary character
Penelope carries a soft, warm, gentle quality that makes it distinctive without being invented.
Considerations
Already in the top 100
At rank #28, you will likely encounter other Penelopes. Consider whether that matters to you.
Explore

Add to watchlists or your list with + Save next to the name above.

Data source:Social Security Administration
Coverage:US births 1879–2024
Updated:January 2025
ISR:Refreshes monthly
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