What Does the Name Penelope Mean?

Penelope is a girl's name of Greek origin meaning “Possibly "weaver" or from "pēnelops" (a type of duck).”

Updated June 2026

Name	Penelope
Gender	female
Origin	Greek
Meaning	Possibly "weaver" or from "pēnelops" (a type of duck)
Variants	Pénélope, Penny, Pipa, Nellie
Popularity	A classic that surged in the 2010s; it ranked among the top 25 US girls' names by the early 2020s.

The meaning and origin of Penelope

The name Penelope means “Possibly "weaver" or from "pēnelops" (a type of duck)” and has Greek origins. Borne by the faithful wife of Odysseus in Homer's Odyssey, who wove and unwove a shroud to delay her suitors. Its meaning is debated, often linked to Greek 'pēnē' (thread, weft) or the bird 'pēnelops'.

Variants and related names

Penelope is related to several other names you may recognize: Pénélope, Penny, Pipa, Nellie. These share a common root or are spelling and language variants of the same name.

How popular is the name Penelope?

A classic that surged in the 2010s; it ranked among the top 25 US girls' names by the early 2020s.

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