The Baby Name Wizard

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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.

My name is Phoebe. I am 34, & I have never met another Phoebe my age. I hated it growing up, and got all the nicknames listed below. But it grew on me as an adult, and now I love it. It is truly mine, and perfectly unique. My middle name is Veronica, and I like that too. Thanks to my parents for a beautiful and rare name!

Nicknames for Phoebe: | Edit

Fi (pronunciated "Fee")
Fifi
Flee
Phee,
BeeBee,
Phoebs, Phoebe-ster, Phoeb-inator, Phobia

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 (Eastern 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.

Phoebe in Hebrew is pure.

Saint Phoebe (1st century) was a deaconess of the Church at Cenchreae, the port of Corinth. She was recommended to the Christian congregation at Rome by St. Paul, who praised her for her assistance to him and to many others. She brought Paul's epistle to the Romans to Rome with her. Her feast day is September 3rd. First female ordained deacon mentioned in the Bible.

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
St. Phoebe, (1st century), early Christian deacon - first woman ordained

Phoebe in song, story & screen: | Edit

Phoebe Buffay, 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, from the TV series "Charmed," played by Alyssa Milano
Phoebe is one of Ms. Frizzle's students in the animated series "The Magic School Bus"
Phoebe is Holden Caulfield's little sister in "The Catcher in the Rye" by J. D. Salinger.
Phoebe Heyerdahl from "Hey Arnold!"
"Phebe" is a character in "As You Like It" by William Shakespeare.
"Phoebe in Wonderland," 2008 movie
Phoebe is one of the Hunters of Artemis in "Percy Jackson and the Olympians," written by Rick Riodan.