The first name Phoebe
A girl’s name from Greek meaning “bright”.
Pronounced /ˈfiːbi/ 2 syllables Female
Meaning and origin
Greek origin
Phoebe means “bright” in Greek.
Borrowed from Latin Phoebē, from Ancient Greek Φοίβη (Phoíbē), feminine form of Φοῖβος (Phoîbos, “bright”).
More names that mean light.
From Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Popularity
Babies registered in England and Wales, 1996–2025
In 2025, 1,542 girls were named Phoebe, making it the 14th most popular girls’ name. It peaked in 2008, with 2,116 births (#26).
Office for National Statistics; years with fewer than three births are not published and show as zero. Compare Phoebe with other names.
Popularity in the United States
Babies named Phoebe at birth, 1880–2025
In 2025, 1,885 girls born in the United States were named Phoebe, the 157th most popular girls’ name that year.
US Social Security Administration, from applications for a Social Security card. A name is only published for a year when at least five babies were given it, so quieter years show as zero.
Phoebe in other languages
Equivalent forms of the name, from Wiktionary
Spelled Phoebe in German too.
Nicknames and spellings
Nicknames for Phoebe
- Phoebs
Other spellings and forms
- Phebe
Famous people named Phoebe
23 on Wikidata, most written-about first
- Phoebe TonkinAustralian actress (born 1989)
- Phoebe Waller-BridgeEnglish actress, screenwriter and producer (born 1985)
- Phoebe CatesAmerican actress, model, and entrepreneur, born 1963
- Phoebe BridgersAmerican musician (born 1994)
- Phoebe DynevorEnglish actress, born 1995
- Phoebe SnowAmerican singer, songwriter and guitarist (1950–2011)
- Phoebe FoxBritish actress, born 1987
- Phoebe HearstAmerican philanthropist, feminist and suffragist (1842–1919)
- Phoebe CaryAmerican writer (1824-1871)
- Phoebe Holcroft WatsonBritish tennis player (1898-1980)
- Phoebe RyanAmerican singer and songwriter, born 1990
- Phoebe NichollsEnglish actress, born 1957
More Greek girls’ names
Questions
- What does the name Phoebe mean?
- Phoebe means “bright” in Greek.
- What is the origin of the name Phoebe?
- Borrowed from Latin Phoebē, from Ancient Greek Φοίβη (Phoíbē), feminine form of Φοῖβος (Phoîbos, “bright”).
- How popular is the name Phoebe?
- In 2025, 1,542 girls born in England and Wales were named Phoebe, ranking 14th. Its peak was 2008, with 2,116 births.
- What are nicknames for Phoebe?
- Common nicknames for Phoebe include Phoebs.
- Is Phoebe a boy's or a girl's name?
- Mostly a girl's name: 100% of the 43,663 US babies named Phoebe since 1880 were girls.
- When was Phoebe most popular?
- 2025 in the United States, when 1,885 babies were named Phoebe, its highest rank at 157th.
- How do you pronounce Phoebe?
- Phoebe is /ˈfiːbi/, 2 syllables.
- What are other spellings of Phoebe?
- Phebe.