Penny is a diminutive of Penelope. Penelope originates in Greek language and means "weaver", although some sources also mention a derivation from an expression meaning "duck". In Homer's Odyssey Penelope was the wife of Odysseus, the king of Ithaca, and she is associated with marital faithfulness. It is also the name of an opera by Gabriel Faure, as well as a romantic comedy by Mark Palansky. It was popularized by the famous actress Penelope Cruz.