Penelope Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
Penelope is a name of Greek origin meaning 'weaver'. Its path through language includes forms like Penelopeus in Ancient Greek and its modern usage in English. It is associated with traits of loyalty and cleverness, particularly due to its mythological background. There is no biblical relevance to the name, but it has gained popularity in modern times due to its literary significance and associations with notable figures.
The name Penelope is most popular in Nevada, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Girl name among the Generation Alpha generation in the West region. Recent 3-year trends show this Girl name is gaining popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been consistently rising. Recent 3-year trends show this Boy name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. From 2020-2022, Penelope has been too falling for female in MidWest, too falling for female in Northeast, too falling for female in South, too falling for female in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been too falling for female in MidWest, too falling for female in Northeast, too falling for female in South, too falling for female in West. Across generations, 'Penelope' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 11719th out of 23106 names. Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 1169th out of 9107 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 436th out of 9204 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 420th out of 12526 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 739th out of 19264 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 1994th out of 27321 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 416th out of 35406 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 26th out of 30306 names. Discover how the name 'Penelope' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Penelope"
Pronunciation
/pəˈnɛləpi/
Origin
Greek
Etymology
The name Penelope is derived from the Greek word 'pēnē', meaning 'weaver'. In mythology, Penelope is the wife of Odysseus in Homer's 'Odyssey', known for her fidelity and cleverness.
Meaning
weaver
Language Evolution
Penelopeus (Ancient Greek), Penelope (Modern Greek)
Historical Usage
The name Penelope gained popularity in the English-speaking world during the 19th century, inspired by the romantic and literary references to the character in classical literature.
Variants & Derivatives
Penny, Nellie, Nell
Modern Popularity & Image
Today, Penelope is viewed as a classic and elegant name, often associated with loyalty and intelligence due to its mythological roots.
Famous People
Penelope Cruz, Penelope Wilton, Penelope Lively
Explore More Penelope Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Penelope"
Note: Years with identical rankings may represent different numbers of births. Data is sourced from Social Security card applications for births in the United States.
Yearly Ranking History of "Penelope"
"Penelope" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Boy | 11719th of 23106 | 53 |
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Girl | 1169th of 9107 | 741 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Girl | 436th of 9204 | 4,686 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Girl | 420th of 12526 | 9,156 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Girl | 739th of 19264 | 3,207 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Girl | 1994th of 27321 | 1,004 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Girl | 416th of 35406 | 11,949 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Girl | 26th of 30306 | 72,396 |
Regional Popularity of "Penelope" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - | - | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- | - | - | - |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
Regional Popularity of "Penelope" by Generation for Female Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
71.89% 1018th/1416 |
43.22% 596th/1379 |
- |
83.27% 951st/1142 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
22.32% 345th/1546 |
20.31% 316th/1556 |
27.45% 646th/2353 |
19.91% 308th/1547 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
16.12% 359th/2227 |
15.02% 365th/2430 |
16.86% 481st/2853 |
15.21% 422nd/2775 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
24.45% 718th/2937 |
19.70% 686th/3483 |
21.38% 752nd/3518 |
21.54% 871st/4044 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
75.33% 2776th/3685 |
34.10% 1526th/4475 |
45.48% 2362nd/5194 |
28.78% 1818th/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
9.62% 441st/4582 |
7.09% 366th/5164 |
6.92% 506th/7313 |
4.73% 353rd/7463 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
0.75% 30th/3984 |
0.65% 29th/4487 |
0.51% 35th/6822 |
0.29% 18th/6276 |
State-by-State Popularity of "Penelope"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Penelope" across states, calculated by dividing the number of births with this name in each state by the total births in that state. This methodology provides a standardized measure of popularity regardless of state population size.