Penelope is a name of Greek origin that means "weaver". In Homer's epic poem the Odyssey, Penelope was the faithful wife of Odysseus who waited for him to return from the Trojan War for twenty years. During this time, she fended off suitors who wanted to marry her by claiming that she would only remarry once she had finished weaving a shroud for her father-in-law Laertes. Each night, she would unravel what she had woven during the day, which is how the term "Penelope's web" came to mean a never-ending task or project. Despite this, Penelope remained loyal to Odysseus and was eventually reunited with him when he returned home disguised as a beggar. Today, Penelope remains a popular name for girls around the world, perhaps due in part to its association with the classic story of love and fidelity that it represents.
The name Penelope has seen a varied trend in popularity over the past few years in the United States. In 2015, there were 5 babies named Penelope, followed by an increase to 9 births in 2016. However, the following year, the number of births dropped slightly to 6. The trend continued with fluctuations: 7 births in 2018 and then a decrease again to 5 births in both 2020 and 2022. Remarkably, there was a significant surge in popularity in 2021, with 10 babies named Penelope.
Overall, over these seven years, from 2015 to 2022, the name Penelope has been given to a total of 47 newborns in the United States. This demonstrates that while it may not be one of the most popular names each year, there is consistent and ongoing interest in the name Penelope among parents across the country during this period.