Pennelope is of Greek origin, meaning "weaver." It's a unique and distinctive name, often associated with the legendary Penelope from Homer's Odyssey, who was known for her faithfulness and cleverness. The name has gained popularity in recent years, ranking among the top 1000 names for girls in several countries. Pennelope is often spelled interchangeably as Penelope or Penelopé, though it's pronounced /pɛˈnɛləpiː/ with the stress on the second syllable.
The name Penelope has seen a varied history of popularity over the years, with significant spikes in usage during certain periods. The highest number of births recorded for this name was in 2017 with 30 occurrences, marking it as particularly popular that year. However, it's worth noting that there was a considerable gap in records between 1961 and 2002, suggesting the name may have fallen out of favor or been less commonly used during this time. Overall, from 1942 to 2023, Penelope has been given to 374 newborns.