Possibly derived from Greek
πηνελοψ (penelops), a type of duck. Alternatively it could be from
πηνη (pene) "threads, weft" and
ωψ (ops) "face, eye". In
Homer's epic the 'Odyssey' this is the name of the wife of
Odysseus, forced to fend off suitors while her husband is away fighting at Troy. It has occasionally been used as an English given name since the 16th century.