Penelope

Girls

Best rank #67 (2025) · ranked in 10 years

Over 10 tracked years from 2016 to 2025, Penelope held a spot in the rankings.

It climbed from #90 in 2016 to #67 in 2025.

The latest tally (2025) puts Penelope at #67.

In 2025, 6,225 babies were given the name Penelope.

Penelope was most popular around 2025, making it characteristic of the 2020s generation.

Rank by year

11020201620212025
  1. 2025676,225
  2. 2024825,766
  3. 2023746,068
  4. 2022706,435
  5. 2021716,380
  6. 2020786,157
  7. 2019716,734
  8. 2018826,531
  9. 2017786,674
  10. 2016906,409

Similar names

Names similar to Penelope include Paisley, Piper, Parker, which share a starting letter or overlapping popularity. Compare their rank trajectories below.

Where Penelope is most popular

In 2025, Penelope was recorded in 51 of the 51 US jurisdictions the SSA reports on, with 6,225 births nationwide.

The largest share came from California at 827 births, 13.3% of the national total, where it ranked #53 that year.

By census region the name skews South, which accounts for 34.4% of Penelope births, against 17.3% Northeast, 21.9% Midwest, 26.4% West.

State rankings spread more than the national figure suggests: Penelope placed as high as #24 in Alaska and as low as #261 in Mississippi.

Top states, 2025

  1. 1California827 · #53 there
  2. 2Texas590 · #94 there
  3. 3New York348 · #72 there
  4. 4Florida336 · #92 there
  5. 5Ohio258 · #51 there

Share by census region

  • Northeast17.3%
  • Midwest21.9%
  • South34.4%
  • West26.4%

Shares are of this name's national total, not of each state's births. SSA withholds any name under 5 occurrences per state and year. Browse all states

Frequently asked questions

Is Penelope a popular name?
Penelope reached a best rank of #67 in 2025 and has charted in 10 years.
Where does Penelope rank now?
In the most recent data (2025), Penelope ranks #67.
Is Penelope a boy or girl name?
It is recorded primarily as a girls' name.
When was Penelope most popular?
Penelope peaked around 2025.

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Source: U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA) - Popular Baby Names (national)