Declining since 2009, #6,838 for girls today.
Popularity of Pheobe since 1882
Babies named Pheobe per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 2009, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Pheobe's real moment was 1885.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1880s | 40 |
| 1890s | 61 |
| 1900s | 31 |
| 1910s | 88 |
| 1920s | 112 |
| 1930s | 68 |
| 1940s | 21 |
| 1950s | 30 |
| 1960s | 43 |
| 1970s | 29 |
| 1980s | 0 |
| 1990s | 64 |
| 2000s | 243 |
| 2010s | 218 |
| 2020s | 88 |
Meaning & origin
Pheobe is a variant spelling of Phoebe, a name with Greek origins meaning 'bright' or 'radiant'. In Greek mythology, Phoebe was a Titaness associated with the moon, and the name also appears in the New Testament. While the standard spelling Phoebe has seen moderate use, the Pheobe variant has always been rare. Its peak usage came in 1885, when it ranked 6838th, reflecting its highest historical frequency. Since then, especially after 2009, its trajectory has been falling. In the most recent year (2025), it was given to roughly 1 in 100,454 newborns, an extremely low rate. The name has not been recorded in any top state lists, indicating its spread is minimal and dispersed. This spelling variant may appeal to parents seeking an unconventional twist on a classic name, but it remains an uncommon choice.
Pheobe is a variant spelling of Phoebe, which derives from the Greek name Φοίβη (Phoibe), meaning 'bright, radiant'. In Greek mythology, Phoebe was a Titan associated with the moon. The name appears in the New Testament as a deaconess mentioned by Paul. The Pheobe spelling is a less common anglicized form that emerged in the 19th century, reflecting phonetic variants.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Fee, Phee
Variants: Phoebe
Sibling names for Pheobe
Names that share Pheobe's style, for a brother or sister.
