Rising since 1987, #157 for girls today.
Popularity of Phoebe since 1880
Babies named Phoebe per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1880s | 646 |
| 1890s | 848 |
| 1900s | 719 |
| 1910s | 1,601 |
| 1920s | 1,851 |
| 1930s | 1,404 |
| 1940s | 1,230 |
| 1950s | 1,092 |
| 1960s | 1,064 |
| 1970s | 1,134 |
| 1980s | 1,123 |
| 1990s | 3,288 |
| 2000s | 8,085 |
| 2010s | 10,645 |
| 2020s | 8,928 |
Meaning & origin
Phoebe has been consistently used in the United States since at least 1880, when records began. In 2025, it ranked 157th, with about 1 in every 853 girls receiving the name, and it achieved its peak popularity in that same year. The name has been on a rising trajectory since 1987, reflecting a broader revival of Greek classical names. Its top states include Vermont, Washington D.C., and Alaska, suggesting appeal in both coastal and interior regions. While not a common name, Phoebe's steady ascent indicates a sustained attraction to its mythological and literary associations.
Phoebe derives from the Greek φοῖβος (phoibos) meaning "bright, pure, radiant." In Greek mythology, Phoebe was a Titaness associated with the moon and prophetic powers, later applied as a surname of Artemis. The name appears in the New Testament as a deacon thanked by Paul. It has been used in England since the 16th century, with periodic revivals.
Where Phoebe is most popular
Births per 100,000 girls by state. Press play or drag the slider to watch it move across the decades. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
“Phoebe” around the world
Where Phoebe lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
25
babies in 2024
Ireland
#97
in 2025
New Zealand
#46
in 2025
Quebec
12
babies in 2025
Australia (NSW)
#65
in 2025
Sources: INSEE (France) · CSO Ireland (Ireland) · NZ Dept of Internal Affairs (New Zealand) · Retraite Québec (Quebec) · NSW Registry of BDM (Australia (NSW)).
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Fee, Pheebs
Variants: Phebe
Sibling names for Phoebe
Names that share Phoebe's style, for a brother or sister.
Sisters: Chloe, Daphne, Iris, Lydia, Stella, Berenice, Capri, Delia, Ione, Nyssa, Rhoda, Abilene, Aeris, Buffy, Daphney, Junia, Leda, Xena, Anthea, Arcadia, Astraea, Celie, Clio, Diantha, Jessamyn, Pennelope, Persis, Susy, Theia, Aletheia, Apphia, Aspasia, Chloris, Io, Persephanie, Thecla, Thirza, Xanthe, Cyrene, Daphyne, Niobe, Ourania
Brothers: Felix, Leo, Silas, Theo, Zachary, Apollo, Canaan, Crispin, Dion, Hiram, Nestor, Thaddeus, Theron, Titus, Arion, Athan, Cosmo, Dione, Eros, Heber, Lazarus, Syrus, Tyrus, Zacchaeus, Zebulon, Zeno, Ajax, Barnabas, Castor, Cephas, Daimon, Damein, Ector, Gryphon, Kairos, Rockford, Thadius, Timon, Ulysee, Zaccheus, Zenas, Apollos, Argus, Attikus, Cleophas, Cyprian, Artimus, Chiron, Damascus, Limuel
Names like Phoebe
Names whose popularity has moved with Phoebe's over the last 50 years.
