Holding steady.
Popularity of Phoenicia since 1971
Babies named Phoenicia per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1970s | 18 |
| 1980s | 63 |
| 1990s | 41 |
| 2000s | 0 |
| 2010s | 0 |
| 2020s | 0 |
Meaning & origin
Phoenicia is a rare place name borrowed from antiquity, given to girls almost exclusively since it first appeared in U.S. records in 1971. It peaked in usage during 1989, when 11 baby girls were recorded with the name. Since then its use has been extremely sporadic, never rising above single digits in any given year; it remains a distinctive, geography-inspired rarity. The name's most notable feature is its direct link to the ancient Phoenician civilization, giving it an exotic yet scholarly air.
Phoenicia is a place name taken from the ancient region of Phoenicia, corresponding to present-day Lebanon and coastal Syria. The name ultimately comes from the Greek 'Phoinike', possibly derived from 'phoinos' meaning 'blood-red' or 'purple', in reference to the purple dye produced by the Phoenicians. It was rarely used as a personal name until the 20th century.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Phoebe, Nicia, Cece
Sibling names for Phoenicia
Names that share Phoenicia's style, for a brother or sister.
Sisters: Alexandria, Cordelia, Persephone, Athena, Veronica
