penelope

Penelope is a feminine given name of Greek origin. The exact etymology is debated, but it is commonly associated with the mythic wife of Odysseus and with the image of weaving. The name has been used in many languages and cultures and remains popular in the modern era.

In Greek mythology, Penelope is renowned for her fidelity and resourcefulness. As Odysseus's wife, she maintains her household during his long absence and fends off numerous suitors by promising to choose a husband once she finishes an unfinished weaving, which she periodically undoes to delay remarriage. Her character embodies patience, intelligence, and loyalty, and she appears in Homer's Odyssey and in later retellings.

In modern usage, Penelope is widely employed as a given name for girls. Notable people with the name include Spanish actress Penelope Cruz; British actress Penelope Wilton; English actress Penelope Keith; and American actress Penelope Ann Miller. In fiction, Penelope appears as a character in various works—Penelope Garcia in Criminal Minds; Penelope Pitstop in the animated series Wacky Races; and as a chapter title in James Joyce's Ulysses.

Other uses: In astronomy, 115 Penelope is a large main-belt asteroid. In zoology, Penelope is the name of a genus of birds known as penelopes, native to the Americas.