Phoebe Name Meaning

The name Phoebe is one that has been around for centuries, and it’s a name that carries with it a lot of history, origin, and meaning. But before we dive into all of that heavy stuff, let’s start with the basics: where did the name Phoebe come from?

The Origins of Phoebe

Phoebe is a name that has its roots in Greek mythology. In Greek mythology, Phoebe was a Titan goddess, the daughter of Uranus and Gaea. She was known as the “shining one” or the “bright one” and was associated with the moon. In Roman mythology, Phoebe was known as the goddess of the moon and was often depicted as a woman holding a crescent moon on her forehead.

The Meaning of Phoebe

The name Phoebe is derived from the Greek word “phoibos,” which means “bright” or “shining.” This is a fitting name for a goddess associated with the moon, as the moon is often thought of as a shining or bright object in the night sky. Additionally, the name Phoebe can also be interpreted to mean “pure” or “clean.”

Popularity of Phoebe

Phoebe has been a popular name for centuries, but it experienced a resurgence in popularity in the late 1800s and early 1900s. This was likely due to the increasing popularity of Greek and Roman names during this time period. The name Phoebe has remained popular throughout the years and has never really gone out of style.

Phoebe in Literature

Phoebe is a name that has been used in literature for centuries. In Shakespeare’s play “As You Like It,” Phoebe is a minor character who is known for her beauty and charm. In Jane Austen’s “Pride and Prejudice,” Phoebe is the name of a character who is known for her wit and intelligence.

Phoebe in Pop Culture

Phoebe is also a name that has been used in pop culture. In the hit TV show “Friends,” Phoebe is one of the main characters and is known for her quirky and eccentric personality. Phoebe is also the name of the character played by actress Lisa Kudrow in the show.

Phoebe in the 21st century

In 21st century, Phoebe is still a popular name among parents. It’s a name that has a classic and timeless feel to it, and it’s a name that has been used throughout history. It’s a name that is associated with beauty, intelligence, and wit, which are all positive attributes.

Phoebe, a shining star

Phoebe, meaning “shining” or “bright” is a name that is perfect for a little girl with a bright personality and a shining future ahead. It’s a name that has been around for centuries and has never really gone out of style, which makes it a perfect choice for parents looking for a timeless and classic name for their daughter.

In conclusion, Phoebe is a name with a rich history and meaning, it’s a name that has been used throughout literature and pop culture, and it’s a name that has never really gone out of style. It’s a perfect choice for parents looking for a timeless, classic, and meaningful name for their daughter.

Infographic of Phoebe name meaning, which is A Greek name, Phoebe means bright and pure.
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Phoebe Name Popularity

How popular is the name Phoebe? Here’s everything we know.

Year Rank # Births % Births
1910 525 26 0.0074%
1911 488 35 0.0094%
1912 561 40 0.0079%
1913 512 61 0.0108%
1914 439 111 0.0159%
1915 480 123 0.0135%
1916 485 132 0.0137%
1917 463 153 0.0153%
1918 489 149 0.0139%
1919 531 126 0.012%
1920 509 143 0.0129%
1921 544 126 0.011%
1922 566 116 0.0104%
1923 553 124 0.0111%
1924 524 144 0.0124%
1925 548 126 0.0111%
1926 600 98 0.0089%
1927 601 99 0.0089%
1928 523 128 0.012%
1929 586 90 0.0087%
1930 594 92 0.0088%
1931 604 77 0.0078%
1932 631 71 0.0072%
1933 541 95 0.0102%
1934 646 63 0.0065%
1935 596 75 0.0077%
1936 581 84 0.0087%
1937 656 65 0.0066%
1938 618 81 0.0079%
1939 605 80 0.0079%
1940 598 92 0.0087%
1941 586 99 0.0088%
1942 723 63 0.005%
1943 724 67 0.0051%
1944 829 43 0.0035%
1945 777 51 0.0042%
1946 773 69 0.0047%
1947 848 60 0.0036%
1948 861 57 0.0036%
1949 1,018 37 0.0023%
1950 977 45 0.0028%
1951 994 44 0.0026%
1952 1,011 43 0.0025%
1953 1,088 36 0.002%
1954 952 59 0.0032%
1955 985 57 0.0031%
1956 1,007 59 0.0031%
1957 1,090 48 0.0025%
1958 1,081 51 0.0027%
1959 951 75 0.0039%
1960 1,078 54 0.0029%
1961 1,124 52 0.0028%
1962 1,205 39 0.0021%
1963 1,157 45 0.0025%
1964 1,121 51 0.0029%
1965 1,299 30 0.0018%
1966 978 62 0.004%
1967 907 78 0.0051%
1968 1,282 33 0.0022%
1969 1,156 47 0.0031%
1970 1,205 48 0.003%
1971 1,169 51 0.0034%
1972 1,275 37 0.0027%
1973 1,117 51 0.0039%
1974 1,409 31 0.0024%
1975 1,103 58 0.0045%
1976 1,336 38 0.0029%
1977 980 86 0.0064%
1978 1,238 52 0.0039%
1979 1,348 45 0.0032%
1980 1,652 28 0.0019%
1981 1,481 37 0.0025%
1982 1,575 33 0.0022%
1983 1,455 37 0.0025%
1984 1,364 44 0.003%
1985 1,213 65 0.0043%
1986 1,120 79 0.0052%
1987 1,309 55 0.0036%
1988 1,225 71 0.0046%
1989 1,000 124 0.0077%
1990 914 160 0.0097%
1991 902 168 0.0103%
1992 1,004 138 0.0086%
1993 927 155 0.0099%
1994 844 185 0.0121%
1995 581 346 0.023%
1996 563 372 0.0248%
1997 563 366 0.0247%
1998 607 351 0.0235%
1999 492 491 0.0328%
2000 442 603 0.0395%
2001 392 714 0.0474%
2002 438 621 0.0414%
2003 441 648 0.0426%
2004 399 729 0.0478%
2005 420 696 0.0455%
2006 359 868 0.0554%
2007 335 961 0.0609%
2008 338 941 0.0609%
2009 318 990 0.0662%
2010 307 1,006 0.0698%
2011 305 1,002 0.0703%
2012 298 1,027 0.0721%
2013 294 1,034 0.0726%
2014 289 1,078 0.074%
2015 275 1,100 0.0756%
2016 306 1,008 0.0699%
2017 309 994 0.0712%
2018 310 993 0.0723%
2019 279 1,122 0.0829%
2020 264 1,107 0.087%
2021 252 1,119 0.0915%

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Data via SSA.gov.

Names Like Phoebe

If you like Phoebe, you’ll love these other names like Phoebe.

What names are variants of Phoebe?

Mix it up with these names that are a variation of the name Phoebe.

Name Meaning Origin Popularity Other Gender
Febe

Bright, radiant

Greek

Pheabe

Bright, radiant

Greek

Phebe

Bright, radiant

Greek

Pheby

Bright, radiant

Greek

Phoebey

Bright, radiant

Greek

Phoeboe

Bright, radiant

Greek

What names are similar to Phoebe?

Find a name that’s like Phoebe, but just a little bit different.

Name Meaning Origin Popularity Other Gender
Fiby

Spanish

Lists With Phoebe

Find inspiration in these baby girl name lists featuring the name Phoebe.

Siblings of Phoebe

Mamas with kids named Phoebe also have kids with these names.

Name Meaning Origin Popularity Other Gender
Zorah

Dawn

Slavic

Rex

King

Latin

Margo

Pearl

French

Annabella

He (God) has favored me

Hebrew

Eloise

Healthy one

English

Josiah

God supports

Hebrew

12 Comments

  1. Biblically she was a awesome lady.

    Reply

  2. My sister originally thought of calling me phoebe and my mum instantly fell in love with the name!

    Reply

    • First I didn’t like my name because everybody else has names that I like but now my name I gonna tell people and they say that’s a nice name or that’s a pretty name it always makes me happy and I just hope some people up there have the same Name as me

      Reply

  3. I wanted a biblical name that wasn’t super common and my favorite book of the Bible is Romans, and Phoebe is mentioned in chapter 16. Her name means bright/shining… and Galilee is her middle name. ? ?

    Reply

  4. My husband and I have very different ideas about girls names and couldn’t agree on anything. He finally mentioned Phoebe after watching an episode of friends….I didn’t love it at first but after doing some research and seeing the mythological ties I fell in love with it. I’m so glad we named her Phoebe because it fits her so perfectly!

    Reply

  5. We liked the sound of the name, but also named her after the Biblical figure, who is the only woman given the title of deacon, and is described as a helper of many. We hope our daughter is a person of faith who helps others and defies societal expectations in her time.

    Reply

  6. Phoebe was my grandmother’s name and I always liked it. I also wanted a name that was less commonly heard. I also like it because it is one of the few female names referenced in the Bible. It has a meaning of brightness as well.

    Reply

  7. It was our IVF doctors name and we thought it was cute. Then we heard it on the show friends and several other places. I had a dream of this big beautiful bird in this native land of mountains, hills and waterfalls. The bird flew down to me and said my name is Phoebe, don’t change it…. that’s who I am! Weird pregnant dream but we knew she was no other than our little Phoebe bird!

    Reply

  8. We both agreed on this name because it was beautiful, uncommon, and unique without being bizarre. We loved that it means bright and shining and that it also had a connection to the moon. In Greek mythology, Phoebe was a Titan associated with the moon. This was also an epithet of her granddaughter Artemis. A moon of Saturn bears this name in honour of the Titan. In poetry, Phoebe is the moon personified. Her older sisters name is Aubrey and we thought it sounded nice together.

    Reply

  9. It was a name we both agreed upon. It’s not very common and kind of different. The spelling is a little tricky for people and teaching the Ph will be a fun hurdle.

    Reply

  10. Sleep! Normal sleep for babies

    Reply

  11. Phoebe is a lesser known name from the New Testament. She was a friend of Paul’s and delivered some of his epistles for him. I have also found it common in early American History. My husband and I had both recently read about a pioneer woman named Phoebe Woodruff and when we heard the name as a baby suggestion we immedietly agreed without another thought. We almost named our daughter Phoebe Anne but changed to Phoebe Alice to find out later Phoebe Anne was Annie Oakley’s name! Our daughter’s twin is Zorah Anne.

    Reply

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