Baby Name Popularity Profile

Penelope

Data-driven SSA statistics, rankings, and historical trends for Penelope.

✦ Weaver 🌍 Greek mythological traditional
National Rank (2025) #22
All-Time Peak Rank #21 Achieved 2022
Total U.S. Births 109,480 since 1880
Unisex Distribution 0.1% Boy / 99.9% Girl Female Archetype
First Recorded 1880 Last seen: 2025
Peak Decade 2010s 6,734 births in 2019
πŸ’‘ The Penelope Vibe: Considered a Modern Trend. A contemporary choice reflecting current cultural naming rhythms and popularity brackets.

🌍 Meaning & Etymology

Primary Meaning Weaver
Language Origin Greek
Origin Type single
Derived from Greek, possibly from 'penelops' (a type of duck) or from 'pΔ“nΔ“' (thread) and 'ops' (face/eye), referring to her skill as a weaver.
Common Nicknames
Penny Nell Nellie Pen
Pronunciation: puh-NEL-uh-pee
Themes & Categories
mythological traditional
Etymology confidence: High

πŸ“– The Story Behind Penelope

According to SSA data, Penelope achieved its highest historical rank of #21 in 2022. Its highest annual registration volume occurred in 2019 with 6,734 babies. Between 2015 and 2025, modern registrations have increased by 4.6%. Overall, the name has maintained a ranked presence for 117 consecutive years.

πŸ“Š Factual Timeline & Current Trajectory (1880 – 2025)

Registration footprint of Penelope across 145 years of SSA data.

5-Year Trajectory Stable
10-Year Shift +4.6% Growth
18801920196020002025

πŸ“ˆ Popularity Milestones & Volatility

Busiest Year on Record 6,734 births in 2019
Years in Top 100 13 yrs
Years in Top 500 42 yrs
Registry Streak 117 yrs
Historical Volatility Highly Volatile
Largest 1-Year Jump N/A
Decade-by-Decade Registration Volumes
1880s: 34
1890s: 36
1900s: 29
1910s: 248
1920s: 562
1930s: 1,109
1940s: 6,383
1950s: 4,758
1960s: 2,871
1970s: 1,750
1980s: 609
1990s: 795
2000s: 5,677
2010s: 47,614
2020s: 37,005

πŸ“ Sound & Spelling Structure

Phonetic Syllables Pe-ne-lo-pe
Letter Count 8 letters
Spelling Complexity Complex
Length Percentile Longer than 79% of names
Linguistic Profile: Longer than 79.0% of SSA names. Starts with P, a letter used by only 1.6% of SSA names.

πŸ› οΈ Sibling & Surname Cadence Tool

Enter a surname or sibling name to test how it pairs with Penelope.

πŸ“ Authentic State & Regional Rankings

Highest Ranking State Nevada
Top States Nevada, Arizona, Alaska, Washington, Oregon
States with Data 51
State 2025 Rank Total Births Peak Year 5-Yr Velocity
Nevada #23 890 2017 10.0% Decline
Arizona #18 2,710 2021 +0.6% Growth
Alaska #7 272 2022 Insufficient historical volume
Washington #25 2,922 2019 11.2% Decline
Oregon #9 1,603 2016 6.7% Decline
Florida #31 5,617 2017 7.2% Decline
California #20 16,224 2019 14.9% Decline
Colorado #21 1,908 2018 +4.8% Growth
Utah #38 1,250 2017 Stable
Idaho #29 524 2023 +37.9% Growth
Texas #32 9,934 2016 10.6% Decline
New Hampshire #16 404 2025 +42.3% Growth
Connecticut #12 1,324 2023 +27.3% Growth
Maine #25 490 2021 3.8% Decline
Virginia #26 2,506 2025 +15.8% Growth
Massachusetts #20 2,652 2017 +29.8% Growth
Delaware #22 217 2023 Insufficient historical volume
Maryland #27 1,559 2023 +5.4% Growth
Illinois #15 4,977 2018 +14.3% Growth
New Jersey #30 2,767 2022 0.6% Decline
Wisconsin #20 1,978 2018 +32.1% Growth
Minnesota #28 1,754 2020 17.1% Decline
Indiana #23 2,235 2018 4.1% Decline
District of Columbia #33 420 2022 Insufficient historical volume
New York #26 7,204 2019 2.5% Decline
North Carolina #34 2,660 2024 +13.3% Growth
New Mexico #30 490 2017 +3.7% Growth
Ohio #17 4,160 2025 +15.7% Growth
Rhode Island #51 325 2020 48.3% Decline
Michigan #27 3,355 2021 4.0% Decline
Kansas #15 932 2015 +40.0% Growth
Missouri #20 1,963 2025 +17.2% Growth
Georgia #37 2,369 2019 +29.3% Growth
Hawaii #35 257 2016 Insufficient historical volume
Vermont #19 140 2021 Insufficient historical volume
Nebraska #84 574 2024 33.3% Decline
Tennessee #30 1,651 2025 +32.4% Growth
Oklahoma #31 1,045 2017 +7.7% Growth
Iowa #23 993 2025 +29.6% Growth
Pennsylvania #25 4,009 2019 +2.2% Growth
Wyoming #40 101 2015 Insufficient historical volume
Montana #24 227 2017 Insufficient historical volume
South Carolina #43 1,036 2024 +7.0% Growth
North Dakota #50 220 2020 Insufficient historical volume
Kentucky #36 1,123 2021 +43.6% Growth
South Dakota #82 183 2014 Insufficient historical volume
Arkansas #42 580 2019 +9.8% Growth
Louisiana #71 938 2018 10.7% Decline
West Virginia #49 471 2019 Stable
Alabama #70 928 2022 8.5% Decline
Mississippi #103 365 2015 15.4% Decline

πŸ‘¨β€πŸ‘©β€πŸ‘§ Sibling Name Suggestions

πŸ‘¦ Brother Suggestions
Jeremiah Leonardo Harrison Sebastian Jackson Grayson Lincoln Dominic Elijah Julian
πŸ‘§ Sister Suggestions
Isabella Aaliyah Gabriella Olivia Scarlett Brooklyn Adeline Genesis Kennedy Kinsley

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