Girl Greek 4 syllables

Penelope

peh-NEL-oh-pee /pəˈnɛləpiː/

"The faithful weaver" — a name of legendary loyalty, wit, and timeless elegance

Penelope is a name of ancient Greek mythology — Odysseus's faithful wife who waited twenty years for his return from Troy, weaving and unweaving her tapestry to delay her suitors. Her name may derive from the Greek for 'weaver' or possibly from the word for 'duck'. Either way, it became a symbol of fidelity, patience, and intelligence. After centuries of quiet dignity, Penelope exploded in popularity in the 2010s — partly thanks to actress Penelope Cruz and partly because it simply sounds magnificent.

Quick Facts

Letters8
SyllablesPe-nel-o-pe
GenderGirl
OriginGreek
Root WordPenelopeia
MeaningWeaver; duck; faithful wife
PopularityVery Popular
Peak Year2021
Trend ↑ Rising
Name DayNovember 5
Nicknames PennyNellNelliePenPip

About the Name Penelope

Penelope likely means 'weaver' in Greek, rooted in the word penelops. It's also linked to the word for 'duck'. Her mythological identity as a faithful, patient wife defines the name's cultural meaning.
Penelope was the wife of Odysseus in Homer's Odyssey, who waited faithfully for 20 years during his absence, cleverly delaying suitors by unweaving her loom each night.
Penny is the most popular nickname, but Nell, Nellie, Pip, and Pen also work beautifully.
Yes — Penelope has been rising steadily and now ranks in the US top 25 girl names.
Penelope Rose, Penelope Grace, Penelope Anne, and Penelope Claire are all elegant combinations.

Personality of Penelope

Perceived character traits commonly associated with people named Penelope

creativity 85%
elegance 90%
independence 88%
intelligence 92%
strength 80%
warmth 82%

Famous People Named Penelope

P
Penelope Cruz
Oscar-winning Spanish actress, one of Hollywood's most acclaimed
P
Penelope (Homer's Odyssey)
The archetypal faithful wife, waiting 20 years for Odysseus
P
Penelope Disick
Daughter of Kourtney Kardashian, famous celebrity baby name

Middle Names for Penelope

Beautiful combinations that flow well with Penelope

Penelope Rose Penelope Grace Penelope Anne Penelope Jane Penelope Claire Penelope Marie Penelope Elise Penelope Dawn Penelope Hope Penelope Kate

Names Similar to Penelope

Similar Sound

Similar Meaning

Sibling Name Ideas

History of Penelope

c. 800 BCE
Homer's Odyssey immortalizes Penelope as the ideal of faithful patience
Ancient Greece
Penelope revered as a model wife; name used in educated Greek families
16th century
Renaissance scholars revive classical names; Penelope gains English usage
1974
Penelope Cruz born; her career transforms the name's modern image
2012
Penelope Disick born; celebrity effect sparks major US naming surge

Numerology & Symbolism of Penelope

7
Destiny Number
Sum of all letters
3
Soul Urge
Sum of vowels
Zodiac Affinity
Scorpio
7
Lucky Number
Personal power digit
🎨
Lucky Color
Deep Purple
💎
Lucky Stone
Garnet
🌸
Lucky Flower
Cyclamen

Penelope Around the World

How Penelope is written in different languages and scripts

بينيلوبي
Arabic
ペネロペ
Japanese
Пенелопа
Russian
페넬로피
Korean
佩内洛普
Chinese
Πηνελόπη
Greek
पेनेलोप
Hindi
פנלופה
Hebrew