Penelope is a distinctive girls' name in England & Wales, ranking #750 in 1997 with 31 recorded births. The name reached its all-time peak in 2022 with 1,206 births ranking #32. Since 1996, the popularity has decreased by 32.6%. In 1997, approximately 1 in every 9,457 girls born was named Penelope. STABLE Recent data shows the name is currently stable.
Penelope is a graceful Greek classic with a long literary and mythological history. Its exact original meaning is uncertain, which is worth stating plainly rather than forcing a neat answer.
Best known from Greek mythology and later classical literature, Penelope has remained admired for its intelligence, elegance, and rich nickname options. Its modern popularity shows how mythic names can feel very wearable.