Is Phoebe a boy, girl, or unisex name?

Phoebe is commonly used as a Girl name.

How popular is Phoebe?

It’s currently ranked #178 in the U.S. Recent trend: Rising.

Phoebe Girl

Popularity: #178 · Trend: ↗ Rising

Origin(s)

Greek; Latin

Meaning

Bright; shining

Historical & Cultural Background

Phoebe is derived from the Greek name 'Phoibos', which means bright or shining. In Greek mythology, Phoebe was a Titan associated with the moon and was the grandmother of Apollo and Artemis. The name has been used in various cultures and has seen a resurgence in popularity in recent years. It is also found in the New Testament, where Phoebe is mentioned as a deaconess.

Trend Summary

Phoebe has experienced a steady increase in popularity in the United States over the past two decades.

Variants

Phebe

International Variants

Félicité (French)
Fiona (Scottish)

Famous people named Phoebe

Phoebe Buffay is a fictional character from the television series 'Friends', known for her quirky personality and musical talent.

Phoebe Waller-Bridge is a British actress and writer, acclaimed for her work on the series 'Fleabag'.

Phoebe Cates is an American actress known for her roles in the films 'Fast Times at Ridgemont High' and 'Gremlins'.

Phoebe Snow was an American singer-songwriter recognized for her unique voice and hit songs in the 1970s.

Fictional characters named Phoebe

Phoebe Halliwell is a character from the television series 'Charmed', known for her ability to see the future.

Phoebe Buffay is a character from the television series 'Friends', known for her eccentric personality and musical performances.

Sibling Suggestions

Chloe Lila Sophie Maya Ella Clara

U.S. Historical Usage

The name Phoebe was first seen in the United States in 1880. Phoebe has ranked as high as #371 nationally which occurred in 2024 and has been most popular in California, Texas, New York, Pennsylvania, and Illinois. In the past 5 years the name Phoebe has been trending up compared to the previous 5 years.

Popularity Over Time (National)

Top States for Phoebe (2024)

Year:

State	Births	Share
CA	175	11%
TX	109	7%
NY	77	5%
PA	69	4%
IL	59	4%
FL	57	4%
OH	56	4%
IN	54	3%
WA	53	3%
TN	50	3%
NC	47	3%
MA	47	3%
CO	45	3%
GA	44	3%
MO	42	3%

Popularity Over Time (National) — Table

Year	Births
1880	50
1881	46
1882	62
1883	66
1884	75
1885	72
1886	80
1887	63
1888	65
1889	67
1890	74
1891	84
1892	88
1893	86
1894	85
1895	90
1896	106
1897	72
1898	79
1899	84
1900	71
1901	54
1902	87
1903	68
1904	63
1905	87
1906	53
1907	82
1908	76
1909	78
1910	89
1911	87
1912	104
1913	112
1914	177
1915	198
1916	199
1917	227
1918	215
1919	193
1920	220
1921	199
1922	193
1923	194
1924	197
1925	192
1926	162
1927	169
1928	177
1929	148
1930	164
1931	143
1932	145
1933	143
1934	128
1935	127
1936	139
1937	121
1938	151
1939	143
1940	150
1941	155
1942	127
1943	128
1944	112
1945	101
1946	117
1947	127
1948	105
1949	107
1950	99
1951	109
1952	99
1953	95
1954	130
1955	120
1956	109
1957	105
1958	110
1959	116
1960	117
1961	120
1962	108
1963	105
1964	100
1965	75
1966	106
1967	137
1968	96
1969	100
1970	111
1971	113
1972	112
1973	118
1974	95
1975	112
1976	107
1977	151
1978	115
1979	100
1980	84
1981	84
1982	80
1983	92
1984	106
1985	119
1986	138
1987	109
1988	122
1989	189
1990	225
1991	235
1992	195
1993	215
1994	248
1995	397
1996	431
1997	419
1998	398
1999	527
2000	642
2001	752
2002	665
2003	689
2004	752
2005	730
2006	890
2007	988
2008	959
2009	1,018
2010	1,040
2011	1,023
2012	1,060
2013	1,065
2014	1,104
2015	1,118
2016	1,034
2017	1,021
2018	1,026
2019	1,149
2020	1,181
2021	1,240
2022	1,382
2023	1,590
2024	1,639