Pennelope is a unique and distinctive name of Greek origin. It is derived from the Greek word "penelopê," which means "weaver." According to Greek mythology, Penelope was the faithful wife of Odysseus, the hero of the epic poem "The Odyssey" by Homer.
Penelope is not mentioned in the Iliad but plays a prominent role in The Odyssey. She is known for her intelligence and resourcefulness. When her husband leaves to fight in the Trojan War, she remains loyal to him despite many suitors seeking her hand in marriage. She devises various schemes to delay or deter these suitors until Odysseus returns home after twenty years of absence.
The name Pennelope has gained popularity as a given name in recent years, likely due to its association with the strong and intelligent character from Greek mythology. It is often spelled in various ways such as Penelope, Penellope, Penelopê, or even Penelopy.
In terms of its meaning and origin, Pennelope carries a powerful and positive image related to loyalty, intelligence, and resourcefulness. As a name for a daughter, it offers a unique and meaningful option with deep roots in ancient mythology. Its distinctive spelling also makes it stand out among other popular names.
Based on the statistics provided, it appears that the name Penelope has had a somewhat inconsistent level of popularity over time in the United States. The earliest recorded birth was in 1942 with 5 occurrences, and there were also 5 births in 1943. However, starting from 1946 onwards, the number of births began to fluctuate more significantly.
In the 1940s and early 1950s, the number of Penelope births ranged between 6 and 12 each year. There was a gap in records from 1958 until 2002, but when data resumed, there were 7 births recorded that year.
The name's popularity began to increase significantly in recent years. In 2013, there were 20 births recorded for Penelope, which more than doubled the previous year's count of 9 births. This trend continued with an even higher number of births in subsequent years: 21 in 2014, 15 in 2016, and 30 in 2017.
However, since then, there has been some decrease in popularity. The number of Penelope births dropped to 14 in 2018 and further decreased to 12 in both 2022 and 2023. Despite these recent decreases, it's clear that the name Penelope had a significant period of popularity between 2013 and 2017.
In total, based on the records provided, there have been 374 births with the name Penelope in the United States since 1942.