Penelope
p(e)-nelo-pe,
pen(e)-lope
Popularity:71
Origin:Greek
Meaning:Weaver; Duck
Penelope is a feminine name of Greek origin. It translates from its original tongue to “weaver” and "duck," and can be traced as far back as the Ancient Greeks as depicted in Homer’s Odyssey. In this tale, Penelope was the queen of Ithaca and the wife of the hero Odysseus. While Odysseus fought in the Trojan War, the much sought after Penelope would remain faithful to her husband and delay her suitors by pretending to weave a seemingly neverending burial shroud. Craftiness like this makes the name perfect for a baby that is part of a family of creatives. Penelope is an elegant name for the lovers of classics among us, but it can be clipped to the ever-chic nickname Penny if that’s more your style.
Sources
100,000+ Baby Names by Bruce Lanksy, pg. 249
Online Etymology Dictionary, Penelope, March 2020
WordSense, Penelope
Behind the Name, Penelope, January 2022
Britannica, Penelope, Greek mythology, September 2022
Study.com, Penelope in the Odyssey by Homer
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