Disney put this fictional kid on a permanent summer vacation, and parents responded by giving the name to their real-life kids.
Thanks to Kathleen for suggesting Phineas as our Disney Baby Name of the Day.
Phineas: Biblical Boy
This name first appears in the Old Testament, sometimes spelled Phinehas.
The name might refer to someone from Nubia, via an Egyptian name. Others suggest it has Hebrew roots.
Either way, the Biblical character was a zealous priest credited with stopping a plague. How, you ask? He executed an Israelite man who was having an affair with a non-believer. It was enough to have Phinehas appointed High Priest of Israel.
Phineas: 18th, 19th and 20th Centuries
It’s a heavy story, one that might not feel quite right to modern parents. And yet, we do love our Biblical boy names. Always have.
Politicians, inventors, and religious leaders have worn the name. It’s the P in P.T. Barnum.
And yet, this name remained on the fringes – even after Julia Roberts named her son Phinneaus in 2004.
But that’s changing for two reasons. First, we’ve embraced Finn, along with many formal name possibilities.
But the second one? Pure Disney.
Phineas: And Ferb
The Disney Channel debuted Phineas and Ferb back in 2007. It aired regularly beginning in 2008.
Phineas Flynn is American. Ferb Fletcher is his English stepbrother. The Flynn-Fletcher family also includes Candace Flynn, who is not a fan of her brothers’ experiments.
The boys’ goal: to make the most out of their summer vacation. They build a roller coaster, discover the lost city of Atlantis, and help out an alien called Meap.
The family also includes pet platypus Perry, who wanders off a lot. That’s because Perry is also a secret agent charged with defeating the bumbling and evil(ish) Dr. Doofenshmirtz.
No matter how outlandish the boys’ adventures, they’re never caught by the Flynn-Fletcher parents. Big sister Candace sees everything, and her attempts to “bust” the boys is a major part of many an episode.
The show has just wrapped up a long and successful run, with an hour-long episode in June 2015 titled Phineas and Ferb: Last Day of Summer
Phineas: By the Numbers
I would have guessed that Julia Roberts got credit for the name’s revival, though her 2004-born son is Phinneaus, called Finn.
But the numbers give this one to television:
- In 2006, there were 66 boys given the name, up from 26 in 2000.
- In 2008, the first year the show ran regularly, there were 117 newborns called Phineas.
- The number has held right below or slightly above 100 ever since.
Other 2014 spellings include:
- Phinehas – 17 boys
- Phinneas – 6 boys
- Finneas – 24 boys
- Finneus – 9 boys
Every spelling of the name has been more popular since the animated character debuted.
Disney can’t take all of the credit, though. This name also succeeds thanks to:
- Our growing affection for Finn, currently ranked #234, with Griffin, Finley, Finnegan, and Finnley also in the US Top 1000.
- The ‘s’ ending that feels more stylish than ever, from ancient names like Atticus to surname choices like Brooks.
- A willingness to use more obscure Biblical names. If Elijah and Levi are mainstream, why not Nehemiah and Phineas?
Disney’s biggest service may have been to help us choose a dominant spelling for the name. Phineas has always been a little more common; now it’s the spelling that springs to mind for many a Disney Channel viewer.
And yet, no spelling of the name has ever cracked the US Top 1000.
With Atticus embroiled in controversy, Phineas might emerge as an alternative. It’s rare, on trend, and associated with a smart, generous, and downright fun character from pop culture.
How would you spell Phineas?
This name also has Ancient Greek myth origins- Phineus was an oracle king who helped Jason and the Argonauts navigate their heroic voyage. The name thus means “oracle” and may be etymologically linked either through Greek or Hebrew (from Biblical figure Phinehas).
I have also loved this name ever since reading A Separate Peace in high school- he’s one of my favorite characters of American literature- adventurous, brave, athletic, kind.
You forgot to mention the reason I always had Phineas on my list: A Separate Peace!
Exactly what I was thinking.