Pennelope: Name Popularity, History & Rankings (1880

By decade. Change compares yearly averages, so the current partial decade is on equal footing. Best rank is the name's best yearly rank within the decade.

Decade	Girls	Per year	Change	Best rank
1880s	–	–	–	–
1890s	–	–	–	–
1900s	–	–	–	–
1910s	–	–	–	–
1920s	–	–	–	–
1930s	–	–	–	–
1940s	48	5	–	#3,610
1950s	57	6	+19%	#3,339
1960s	6	1	-89%	#6,374
1970s	–	–	–	–
1980s	–	–	–	–
1990s	–	–	–	–
2000s	41	4	–	#10,737
2010s	162	16	+295%	#4,671
2020s (to 2025)	85	14	-13%	#6,570

Decade

Girls

Per year

Change

Best rank

1880s

–

1890s

–

1900s

–

1910s

–

1920s

–

1930s

–

1940s

–

#3,610

1950s

+19%

#3,339

1960s

-89%

#6,374

1970s

–

1980s

–

1990s

–

2000s

–

#10,737

2010s

162

+295%

#4,671

2020s (to 2025)

-13%

#6,570

The story of Pennelope

Pennelope is rare for girls in the United States, ranked #8,234 in 2025 with 13 babies given the name. It is currently declining compared with a decade ago.

Since 1942, 399 American babies have been named Pennelope. Its peak came in 2017, when 30 newborns received the name, the signature sound of the 2010s.

The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Pennelope stood among all girls' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.

How old are people named Pennelope?

The median living Pennelope is about 11 years old; half are between 6 and 20. An estimated 400 people named Pennelope are alive in the United States today.

Estimated from births per year and Social Security period life tables; an approximation of the living age distribution, by age in years.

Pennelope year by year

Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.

Year	Girls	Girls rank
2025	13	#8,234
2024	12	#8,829
2023	12	#8,855
2022	13	#8,410
2021	17	#6,909
2020	18	#6,570
2019	25	#5,280
2018	14	#8,057
2017	30	#4,671
2016	15	#7,894
2015	14	#8,334
2014	21	#6,154
2013	20	#6,419
2012	9	#12,009
2011	8	#13,089
2010	6	#16,466
2009	7	#14,845
2008	10	#11,403
2007	–	–
2006	7	#14,750
2005	10	#10,737
2004	–	–
2003	–	–
2002	7	#13,277
2001	–	–
2000	–	–
1995	–	–
1990	–	–
1985	–	–
1980	–	–
1975	–	–
1970	–	–
1965	–	–
1960	–	–
1955	6	#5,683
1950	6	#5,146
1945	5	#5,083
1940	–	–
1935	–	–
1930	–	–
1925	–	–
1920	–	–
1915	–	–
1910	–	–
1905	–	–
1900	–	–
1895	–	–
1890	–	–
1885	–	–
1880	–	–

Frequently asked questions

Quick answers about Pennelope, drawn from the same Social Security data as the charts above.

How old is the average Pennelope?

The median living Pennelope is about 11 years old. Half of all living Pennelopes are between 6 and 20 years old.

How many people named Pennelope are alive today?

An estimated 400 people named Pennelope are alive in the United States, based on 399 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

What does the name Pennelope mean?

Spelling variant of Penelope.

How popular is the name Pennelope in 2025?

Pennelope ranked #8,234 among girls' names in the United States in 2025, with 13 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.

How many people are named Pennelope?

399 babies have been named Pennelope in the United States since 1942, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Pennelope most popular?

Pennelope peaked in 2017, when 30 newborns received the name.

Is Pennelope a boy or girl name?

Pennelope is overwhelmingly a girl's name: 100% of babies with the name.

Is the name Pennelope rising or falling?

Pennelope is declining, less popular now than a decade ago.

Pennelope

Pennelope popularity over time

The story of Pennelope

How old are people named Pennelope?

Pennelope year by year

Frequently asked questions

Names like Pennelope