She’s been worn a by a moon and a bird, a witch and a Friend.
Thanks to Breanna for suggesting Phoebe as Name of the Day.
The Greek phoibos means bright, and the original Phoibe was a moon goddess – grandmama to Artemis in some tellings. A handful of other mythological characters wore the name, but the moon goddess is the one who fell for the shepherd Endymion. There’s more to their story, but let’s leave it there, except to note that one of Saturn’s sixty-plus moons is named in her honor.
Phoebe is the Latinized version of the name, and the common spelling throughout the Western world. Besides the moon, Phoebe links to the natural world via:
- A genus of evergreen trees are called phoebe;
- A bitsy perching bird, a member of the tyrant flycatcher family, is also know as the phoebe, thanks to her birdsong, which sounds just like the name: fee bee.
If goddesses and growing things aren’t for you, perhaps her Biblical tie will appeal. In the New Testament, Phoebe is an early Christian woman living in Corinth. She’s sometimes referred to as a deaconess, but that assertion can set off a firestorm about the role of women in the early church. Suffice to say that St. Paul thought she was the bee’s knees, and she appears on the Roman Catholic calendar of saints.
Literary Phoebes include a shepherdess in William Shakespeare’s As You Like It, though the Bard preferred the spelling Phebe, and Holden Caulfield’s little sis in Catcher in the Rye. There’s also Phoebe Pyncheon, a pretty country cousin in Nathaniel Hawthorne’s The House of the Seven Gables.
Today’s parents probably recognize Phoebe from television and movies:
- 1980s screen staple Phoebe Cates appeared in the blockbuster Gremlins and the classic Fast Times at Ridgemont High and is still acting today;
- From 1994 to 2004, Lisa Kudrow played quirky character Phoebe Buffay on must-see-TV megahit Friends. The role won her an Emmy;
- Debuting in 1998, the supernatural tale of a trio of sisters – and witches – known as Charmed included Alyssa Milano as Phoebe Halliwell. Charmed ran through 2006 and may be part of the reason Piper – the name of another sister-witch – has caught on in recent years.
There was a character by the name on The Bold and the Beautiful and a Bratz doll called Phoebe, too.
Then there’s my favorite fictional Phoebe, Phoebe Snow. Circa 1900, railroad travel was less than elegant. Enter Phoebe Snow, a demure young lady unafraid to travel from Manhattan to Buffalo via the Lackawanna Railroad clad head-to-toe in white, from parasol to high-buttoned shoes. Back in the day she was among the most recognized of corporate icons.
Phoebe’s heyday was probably pre-rankings. In the 1880s and 90s she appeared in the 200s, but was already falling. She spent the 1960s, 70s and 80s unranked until Cates and company brought her back into the public eye. In 1989 she re-entered the charts at #945. Phoebe has zigged and zagged her way up the charts, reaching #348 in 2008.
Phoebe’s a nickname-proof choice that can satisfy parents seeking a saint’s name, a nature name, a goddess name … she’s surprisingly versatile.
I like Phoebe. A friend in England recently chose it for their new baby girl. I love that there are great nn options: Fifi, Bee (yes, I like it spelled like the insect), Bebe, and even Phoebes. The history is nice too. Yes, Phoebe is a name I could stand to hear more of.
I absolutely ADORE Phoebe !!! Phoebe is vibrant, spunky, girly without being frilly, sweet & suitable to any age. It’s a dynamic name to me.It’s also brilliant in any type of sibset, whether it’s a subtle or obvious theme. I also really love the moon part, a I have a think for ‘moon’ names (I also love Selene & Luna). If you wanted a subtle, name geekey link, I think Luna,Selene & Phoebe would be really interesting as a sibset.
The Afrikaans spelling is Febe though it is said exactly the same.All of the nicknames are fabulous, even the ultra cutesy ones that usually make me cringe I like. It’s also popular in Britain (in 2008 it was ranked 26).I think the British celeb Tess Daly has a daughter named Phoebe.
Overall, it’s a name I’ve loved for years. It has a steady spot in the top & I could seriously imagine being the mother of a Phoebe. Oh, & I adore Piper as well – for years
I love Phoebe! So much that my 2 yr old daughter is named Phoebe Jane! Funnily, it was my husband who insisted on Phoebe. It doesn’t seem like a “guy” name to me, but he was always in love with Phoebe Cates. I love it because of many of the reasons you stated. It’s about as classic as you get, though you don’t hear it often, it’s Biblical, but that’s not the first connotation, it’s literary, but not pretentious. I always feel like the odd spelling might be a little bit of a deterrent to many parents choosing it. (Although I think I told you of my horror at meeting a “Phoebee” at the grocery. Revolting!) Overall, it’s a spunky little name, exactly like my daughter!
I actually asked my brother what he thought of it and he says he always liked it . He’s 25 , by the way. I know what you mean, though
Most men look at me blankly and ask if we’ll have Monica and Chandler next!
That sounds like something one of my uncles would say ! Lol Men are different to women when it comes to names
Phoebe Jane is a great name!
Thanks! I think so too. Jane is my grandmother’s name. I love it as much as Phoebe…sometimes I wish I’d saved it for a first name!
I love Phoebe Jane as well, though I love my middle name, (it’s my grandmother’s) Jean. I love the way Phoebe goes with both Jane and Jean.
Phebe is also the name of the second female lead in Louisa May Alcott’s books Eight Cousins and Rose in Bloom. She is a young servant (and friend of the wealthy protagonist) who becomes an accomplished singer.
Interesting, Holey – thank you!
I like the name too – only downside being I have to think a little harder on how to spell Phoebe.
I know. We do get Pheobe a lot. I just say “like Phoenix!” I do feel sorry for her when she actually has to learn her letters. It really makes no phonemic sense at all!
I love Phoebe and as usual, really appreciate your write-up. It’s nice to see a name from different angles.
Hugh Laurie on Friends re “Phebes”:
Fabulous! I love Hugh Laurie. Thanks, Photoquilty!
I have a two year old girl named Phoebe. I LOVE her name. It simply sings to me. Everything about it. I love that it is a name that comes with so much history.
In the beginning we got some pretty sketchy responses to her name. Half of the people seemed to love it and the other half didn’t like it at all. But I must say that even the people who hated it eventually started to warm up to it.
It is that kind of name, Meg – people don’t expect it, so it takes a few minutes to sink in. But it is a great choice.
And JNE, I love Fifi as a nickname.
One more Phoebe: in Mystic Pizza, the little girl that Kat was babysitting was named Phoebe.
I really dont like Phoebe at all…I think it has something to do with the sound. FEE-BEE. It just sounds…ick. I’d rather use Portia or Penelope.
I think I could name a Duggar-sized family using just P names – Percy, Peter, Persephone …
P names & S names are the Duggar potentials for me. Is ‘potentials’ even a word lol? Oh, there’s a Phoebe Macnamara in a a Nora Robert’s novel. High Noon, I think
I am in the exact same boat. I love P names both girl and boy. You should do a special list on P names
I love the “concept” of Phoebe and I’m usually a big on names that involve the Bible and mythology, but I don’t love the sound of Phoebe. It’s the bird call that’s ruining it for me, because in my head I hear it trilling away again and again…
Caroline, I have a Phoebe Jane too — how funny!
Gen X-ers ask, “Like Phoebe from Friends?” Gen Y asks, “Like Phoebe from Charmed?”
I love Phoebe as well. It’s so quirky and cute. I’m really torn between the spellings Phebe and Phoebe though.
I would never use Phoebe personally, but I do love the name’s subtle quirkiness (and that’s not do to any Friends influence since I never watched the show). For a very short amount of time there was a kids’ show — a cartoon called “A Touch of Blue in the Stars” — that featured a girl named Phoebe who went by Bee.
My husband is obsessed with “P” names for girls, especially Penelope, Phoebe, & Piper. I like them all – I do worry about the rising popularity of all of them, though!
(I’m one of those who cares about avoiding name trends, maybe because I’m a Sara without an “H,” who always ends up misspelled or having to use a last initial, due to being one of several Saras & Sarahs in every class, club, sorority, workplace, etc. I’ve ever been in! That being said…I do like my name.)
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