Origin of the name Phoebe:
Feminine form of the Greek Phoibos (bright one), which is derived from phoibos (bright). Phoebe is found in Greek mythology as a name for Artemis, the goddess of the moon. In poetry, Phoebe is the moon personified.
From A World of Baby Names by Teresa Norman. Buy the bookDoes Phoebe sound...
Sibling Names for Phoebe...
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Reader Contributions
Contribute to, or edit, this collection of community wisdom on the name Phoebe!
- Comments and insights on the name Phoebe: | Edit
In Canada, it is a unique name w/out being so outlandish no one ever heard it before. Great reception to it.
- Personal experiences with the name Phoebe: | Edit
In 2007 my brother and his wife named their first daughter Phoebe Hannah.
DD named Phoebe. People think its spelling is difficult, but DD could spell it before she started school. She loves her name.
- Nicknames for Phoebe: | Edit
Phee, BeeBee, Phoebs, Phoebe-ster, Phoeb-inator
- Meanings and history of the name Phoebe: | Edit
Beyond its literal Greek meaning ("Brightness" "shining"), she was a Titan in Greek mythology. There is a bird genus Sayornis, commonly called phoebes (Easter Phoebe, Black Phoebe, Say's Phoebe are the species). So it can be considered an ornithological name like Wren, Robin, Lark, etc., too.
Phoebe is also another name for the Greek goddess Artemis, in her aspect as the moon goddess.
- Famous real-life people named Phoebe: | Edit
Phoebe Snow (born Phoebe Laub), soul singer (stage name taken from "Phoebe Snow," a character in early 20c. railroad advertisements)
Phoebe Cary (1824-1871), American poet
Phoebe Apperson Hearst (1842-1919), American philanthropist
Phoebe Hesketh (1909-2005), English poet
Phoebe Nicholls (b. 1957), English actress
Phoebe Cates, actress
Phoebe Prince, a bullying victim who lived in South Hadley- Phoebe in song, story & screen: | Edit
Phoebe Buffet, character on TV show "Friends", played by Lisa Kudrow
Phoebe is the maid/companion/best friend of the heroine, Rose Campbell, in the books "Eight Cousins" and "Rose in Bloom" by Louisa May Alcott
Phoebe Halliwell, one of the Charmed ones in the series "Charmed", played by Alyssa Milano
Phoebe is one of Ms Frizzle's students in the Magic School Bus
Phoebe is Holden Caufield's little sister in "The Catcher in the Rye" by J. D. Salinger.
"Phebe" is a character in "As You Like It" by William Shakespeare.
Phoebe Buffay, character in the television show "Friends"
Phoebe in Wonderland, 2008 movie
NameVoyager US Popularity of Phoebe Over Time
NameMapper Current Popularity of Phoebe by State
Global Popularity of the Name Phoebe
- #31 in England
- #53 in Australia (New South Wales)
- #61 in Australia (Victoria)
- #94 in Scotland
- #348 in United States
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