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Dictionary of Medieval Names
from European Sources
☙

Penelope f. Ancient Greek Πηνελόπη, of uncertain origin but perhaps related to Ancient Greek πηνέλοψ or πηνέλωψ 'wigeon, duck'.

The name of the wife of Odysseus in Homer's Odyssey.

The name came into use in England in the 16th C.

England
Early Modern English
● 1581 Penellopen StAnthonlin p. 28
Cite as: S.L. Uckelman. "Penelope". In S.L. Uckelman, ed. The Dictionary of Medieval Names from European Sources, Edition 2018, no. 1. http://dmnes.org/2018/1/name/Penelope.