Rising since 2000, #7,885 for girls today.
Popularity of Pennelope since 1942
Babies named Pennelope per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1940s | 48 |
| 1950s | 57 |
| 1960s | 6 |
| 1970s | 0 |
| 1980s | 0 |
| 1990s | 0 |
| 2000s | 41 |
| 2010s | 162 |
| 2020s | 85 |
Meaning & origin
Pennelope is a modern respelling of the classic Penelope, a name with deep roots in Greek mythology and literature. While the original Penelope has remained a steady favorite over the centuries, the variant Pennelope represents a more recent trend, emerging in the 1940s with its first recorded use in 1942. The name reached its peak popularity in 2017, reflecting a broader pattern of creative respellings that grew in the 2010s. Since 2000, its usage has been rising, though it remains relatively rare: in the latest data, it is given to roughly 1 in every 123,636 newborn girls and ranks 7,885th in the U.S. No top states were reported, suggesting its use is spread thinly across the country. This spelling gives the familiar Penelope a fresh, distinctive look while preserving its elegant sound.
Pennelope is a modern respelling of the ancient Greek name Penelope. The original form appears in Homer's Odyssey as the faithful wife of Odysseus. Its meaning is debated: it may derive from Greek 'pene' (thread or weft) or 'pene-lops' (a type of duck). The spelling 'Pennelope' emerged in the 20th century, likely as a fashionable variation with an extra 'n' and 'e'.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Penny, Nell, Pen
Variants: Penelope, Penelopa, Pénélope
Sibling names for Pennelope
Names that share Pennelope's style, for a brother or sister.
