The Baby Name Wizard

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Contribute to, or edit, this collection of community wisdom on the name Phoenix!

Comments and insights on the name Phoenix: | Edit

Phoenix is the capital of Arizona, a state in southwestern United States. Phoenix is an ancient equivalent of yin-yang where all things opposite converge. Phoenix is a prodigy

Personal experiences with the name Phoenix: | Edit

My name was legally changed from Mary to Phoenix. Hardly a day has gone by for the past 10 years that someone doesn't remark how beautiful they think the name is. It certainly helped to separate me from the crowd of Marys in the world!

Nicknames for Phoenix: | Edit

Mine are Fifi and Nicki.

Meanings and history of the name Phoenix: | Edit

In Chinese culture, the Phoenix bird is the symbol of the Empress and represents beauty, peace and happiness. The Phoenix is the queen of the birds and is known for her beautiful singing voice.

A phoenix is a mythical bird that is a fire spirit with a colorful plumage and a tail of gold and scarlet (or purple, blue, and green according to some legends). It has a 500 to 1,000 year life-cycle, near the end of which it builds itself a nest of twigs that then ignites; both nest and bird burn fiercely and are reduced to ashes, from which a new, young phoenix or phoenix egg arises, reborn anew to live again. The new phoenix is destined to live as long as its old self. In some stories, the new phoenix embalms the ashes of its old self in an egg made of myrrh and deposits it in the Egyptian city of Heliopolis (Greek for sun-city). It is said that the bird's cry is that of a beautiful song. In very few stories they are able to change into humans.

Famous real-life people named Phoenix: | Edit

Phoenix Chi Gulzar, daughter of Spice Girl Melanie Brown and Jimmy Gulzar.

Phoenix in song, story & screen: | Edit

I named my daughter Phoenixx, after the Apache fire princess. Her father wanted a Native Amercian name since he is Miwok. The double xx's are a family tradition on her dad's side. Growing up with the name Michele I wanted something unique for my daughter. I hear a lot of people who have changed their name to Phoenix, but few who have it as a birth name. Either way I've always loved the name and so does she.