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Home › Baby Names Directory › Penelope

Penelope

♂ Boy

Pronounced puh-NEL-uh-pee /pəˈnɛl.ə.pi/Medium

Meaning: From the Greek Penelope, likely 'weaver' (or linked to a wild duck) — the faithful wife of Odysseus who wove and unwove her loom to hold off suitors. Overwhelmingly a girl's name; used here for a boy, which we note.Low

In 30 seconds: A Greek classic: Penelope means 'weaver' (said 'puh-NEL-uh-pee') — Odysseus's faithful wife. Strongly a girl's name — we note the lean.
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Origin MediumGreek
MeaningFrom the Greek Penelope, likely 'weaver' (or linked to a wild duck) — the faithful wife of Odysseus who wove and unwove her loom to hold off suitors. Overwhelmingly a girl's name; used here for a boy, which we note.
U.S. rank (2024)#11935 ↗ Rising
2024 U.S. births6 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)
Peak year2021
Total births (all-time)≈ 53

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 202120152024

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Penelope is Greek, most often read 'weaver' (some link it to a wild duck), the loyal wife of Odysseus in Homer's Odyssey. It is overwhelmingly a girl's name; used here for a boy, which we note. (said 'puh-NEL-uh-pee').

For boys it appears only very rarely in the U.S., against very heavy girls' use. Very rare for boys, classical, and lyrical.

Did you know? Penelope is Greek, likely 'weaver' — Odysseus's steadfast wife who wove and unwove her loom to fend off suitors in the Odyssey; it's overwhelmingly a girl's name, which we note (said 'puh-NEL-uh-pee').
Overall data confidence 40%
References — Penelope — Greek 'weaver'; Odyssey; cross-sex, strongly girl

Variations

PénélopePenelopyPenny

Nicknames

PennyNell

Famous Bearers

  • Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Penelope…

Persephone— a like Greek mythic name
Calliope— a like classical Greek pick
Atticus— a like Greek-rooted boy's name
Cassius— a like classical boy's name

Explore names like Penelope

By themegreekcross-sexunisex-lean-girlmythic

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Penelope mean?

Penelope is Greek, likely 'weaver' — Odysseus's faithful wife in the Odyssey; it's strongly a girl's name, which we note.

How do you pronounce Penelope?

It's said puh-NEL-uh-pee /pəˈnɛl.ə.pi/ — four syllables, stress on the second.

Is Penelope a boy or girl name?

Penelope is used here as a boy's name, though it's strongly a girl's — we note the lean.

How popular is Penelope?

Penelope is very rare for boys in the U.S. and very common for girls.

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