Penelope
5 countries#22 in United States, 2025Popularity across 5 countries
Each line is scaled to its own peak, so you can compare when Penelope was in fashion in each country, whatever the population size.
Country by country
🇺🇸 United States
109,533 births recorded 1880–2025 · currently #22 · peaked in 2019 with 6,734 births
Most common in: California, Texas, New York, Florida, Illinois
Source: Social Security Administration, official birth-registration data
🇬🇧 United Kingdom
10,528 births recorded 1974–2025 · currently #85 · peaked in 2021 with 1,268 births (England & Wales + Scotland + Northern Ireland combined)
Source: ONS, National Records of Scotland & NISRA (combined), official birth-registration data
🏴🏴 England & Wales
9,614 births recorded 1996–2021 · currently #38 · peaked in 2021 with 1,194 births
Source: Office for National Statistics, official birth-registration data
🇫🇷 France
3,231 births recorded 1949–2022 · currently #3640 · peaked in 2007 with 220 births
Most common in: Paris, Hauts-de-Seine, Rhône, Nord, Bouches-du-Rhône
Source: INSEE, official birth-registration data
🏴 Scotland
703 births recorded 1974–2025 · currently #71 · peaked in 2025 with 58 births
Source: National Records of Scotland, official birth-registration data
Northern Ireland
211 births recorded 2008–2025 · currently #111 · peaked in 2023 with 21 births
Source: NISRA, official birth-registration data
United States rank history
Penelope’s rank among girls’ names, most recent 20 years on record.
| Year | Rank | vs. prior yr |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 | #482 | — |
| 2007 | #409 | ↑73 |
| 2008 | #359 | ↑50 |
| 2009 | #253 | ↑106 |
| 2010 | #200 | ↑53 |
| 2011 | #168 | ↑32 |
| 2012 | #125 | ↑43 |
| 2013 | #56 | ↑69 |
| 2014 | #43 | ↑13 |
| 2015 | #34 | ↑9 |
| 2016 | #27 | ↑7 |
| 2017 | #24 | ↑3 |
| 2018 | #26 | ↓2 |
| 2019 | #22 | ↑4 |
| 2020 | #26 | ↓4 |
| 2021 | #23 | ↑3 |
| 2022 | #21 | ↑2 |
| 2023 | #23 | ↓2 |
| 2024 | #28 | ↓5 |
| 2025 | #22 | ↑6 |
Frequently asked questions about Penelope
Is Penelope a popular name?
Yes — Penelope currently ranks #22 among girls’ names in United States as of 2025, based on official birth records.
Is Penelope more common for boys or girls?
Penelope is recorded predominantly as a girls’ name in official United States birth data.
When was Penelope most popular?
Penelope peaked in 2019 in United States, with 6,734 recorded births that year.
Is Penelope rising or falling in popularity?
In United States, Penelope’s popularity is rising — its rank has improved from #836 in 1880 to #22 in 2025.
How many babies have been named Penelope?
At least 123,292 babies have been recorded with the name Penelope across official birth statistics in 5 countries.
Is Penelope popular in more than one country?
Yes — Penelope appears in official birth records in 5 countries: United States, England & Wales, France, Scotland, Northern Ireland.
What names are similar in popularity to Penelope?
Based on real 2025 ranking data in United States, names ranked closest to Penelope include Nora, Hazel, Chloe, Ellie.