Phebe Girl

Popularity: #926 · Trend: ↘ Falling

Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: FEE-bee //ˈfiːbi//

Origin: Greek; Hebrew

Meaning: Greek: shining; Hebrew: bright

Historical & Cultural Background

The name Phebe has its roots in ancient Greek, derived from the word "phōs," meaning "light" or "brightness." In Greek mythology, Phebe was associated with the moon and was one of the Titans, embodying the qualities of brightness and radiance. The name appears in the New Testament of the Christian Bible, where Phebe is mentioned in the Epistle to the Romans, specifically Romans 16:1, as a deaconess of the church at Cenchreae.

This biblical reference, dating to the 1st century CE, significantly contributed to the name's adoption in early Christian communities and its subsequent spread throughout Europe. As the name transitioned into Latin as "Phoebe," it maintained its association with light and brightness.

The Latin form was used in various early Christian texts and became popular in medieval Europe, particularly among Christians who sought names with biblical significance. The name was further popularized through the works of early church fathers and in various translations of the Bible, including the Vulgate, which solidified its presence in Christian nomenclature.

Culturally, Phebe has been associated with qualities such as purity, clarity, and enlightenment, resonating with the symbolic meanings of light. The name has also been linked to various saints and figures in Christian tradition, reinforcing its spiritual significance.

In literature, Phebe appears in works such as Shakespeare's "As You Like It," where the character embodies themes of love and loyalty. The name has a diminutive form, "Phebe," which has been used in various cultures, although its historical significance primarily lies in its original form.

Famous people named Phebe

In this section, you will find notable people named Phebe. We include individuals across a wide range of fields, including actors known for their work in film, television, and stage productions. You'll also find musicians, directors, and other public figures named Phebe who have made a significant impact on popular culture.

We also feature individuals named Phebe who have made meaningful contributions to science, politics, athletics, literature, and other areas of public interest.

Please note that not every baby name in our database currently has a famous namesake listed. If you would like to suggest a name we may have missed or submit a correction, feel free to contact us. We review and finalize additions and corrections within 24 hours.

Phebe Ann Thorne is a singer-songwriter best known for her work in the folk music genre.

Phebe C. Smith is a botanist best known for her research on plant taxonomy and ecology.

Fictional characters named Phebe

The following list of fictional characters named Phebe is a work in progress. If you would like to suggest an additional character, please send us the character's name along with a brief, one-sentence description of what they are best known for.

You may also submit corrections, which we will review and update as quickly as possible.

Phebe is a fictional character from the play As You Like It by William Shakespeare. She is a shepherdess who becomes involved in a romantic subplot with the character Silvius.

Sibling suggestions

If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Phebe, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.

PhoebeClaraLilaMabelHazelNoraIvy

Similar names

Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Phebe. These names can serve as alternatives to the sibling suggestions listed above and may help you find the perfect complementary name for your growing family.

FionaCecilyLydiaElenaFreyaZoeMiraCoraTessa

U.S. Historical Usage

The name Phebe was first seen in the United States in 1880.

Phebe has ranked as high as #6024 nationally, which occurred in 2011, and has been most popular in New York, California, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, and Tennessee.

In the past 5 years the name Phebe has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.

Popularity Over Time (National)

The name Phebe is part of our comprehensive baby names database, which includes Social Security Administration (SSA) data dating back to 1880—the first official year of state and national tracking. The chart below shows when Phebe was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.

Popularity Over Time (National) — Table

We track the national popularity of each baby name annually. The table below displays each year along with the number of births reported by the Social Security Administration. This data combines all state-level reporting from the SSA's baby names database to provide a comprehensive view of overall birth counts for Phebe.

Year Total Births Girl
2025 22 22
2024 22 22
2023 34 34
2022 28 28
2021 25 25
2020 30 30
2019 34 34
2018 37 37
2017 29 29
2016 32 32
2015 29 29
2014 37 37
2013 37 37
2012 33 33
2011 45 45
2010 35 35
2009 41 41
2008 33 33
2007 27 27
2006 36 36
2005 41 41
2004 39 39
2003 34 34
2002 29 29
2001 22 22
2000 22 22
1999 21 21
1998 21 21
1997 21 21
1996 23 23
1995 16 16
1994 10 10
1993 11 11
1992 16 16
1991 15 15
1990 15 15
1989 11 11
1988 13 13
1987 14 14
1986 17 17
1985 14 14
1984 10 10
1983 11 11
1982 19 19
1981 14 14
1980 16 16
1979 14 14
1978 20 20
1977 14 14
1976 16 16
1975 16 16
1974 23 23
1973 20 20
1972 12 12
1971 11 11
1970 21 21
1969 26 26
1968 18 18
1967 11 11
1966 15 15
1965 12 12
1964 6 6
1963 13 13
1962 11 11
1961 22 22
1960 13 13
1959 14 14
1958 12 12
1957 15 15
1956 8 8
1955 13 13
1954 18 18
1953 13 13
1952 13 13
1951 13 13
1950 13 13
1949 17 17
1948 19 19
1947 21 21
1946 15 15
1945 13 13
1944 28 28
1943 24 24
1942 16 16
1941 22 22
1940 14 14
1939 16 16
1938 18 18
1937 13 13
1936 18 18
1935 19 19
1934 17 17
1933 22 22
1932 21 21
1931 20 20
1930 27 27
1929 14 14
1928 22 22
1927 23 23
1926 15 15
1925 30 30
1924 33 33
1923 23 23
1922 18 18
1921 33 33
1920 27 27
1919 28 28
1918 34 34
1917 35 35
1916 30 30
1915 23 23
1914 25 25
1913 22 22
1912 19 19
1911 18 18
1910 10 10
1909 8 8
1908 10 10
1907 15 15
1906 10 10
1905 10 10
1904 13 13
1903 11 11
1902 15 15
1901 13 13
1900 22 22
1899 12 12
1898 15 15
1897 18 18
1896 19 19
1895 22 22
1894 8 8
1893 21 21
1892 22 22
1891 24 24
1890 20 20
1889 30 30
1888 17 17
1887 20 20
1886 19 19
1885 32 32
1884 10 10
1883 13 13
1882 25 25
1881 20 20
1880 15 15

Top States for Phebe (2023)

We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. The table below shows the five states with the highest number of births for this name in the selected year. Use the toggle to expand the list to every state with reported births.

State Births Share
FL 5
100%