Origin of the name Penelope:

Derived from mthe Greek Pēnelopē, a name bornee in Greek mythology by Odysseus' wife, who, for twenty years, patiently awaited his return. The etymology of the name is debated. Some believe it is derived from the Greek penelops (a kind of duck), since Penelope was said to have been exposed to die as an infant and was fed and protected by a duck. Others think it might be derived from pēnē (thread on a bobbin) and give it the definition "weaver, worker of the loom," for Penelope spent evenings weaving and unweaving while she waited for her husband to return.

From A World of Baby Names by Teresa Norman. Buy the book