Phoebe
Say it: FEE-bee/ˈfiːbi/
GirlMythologyMeans bright6 letters2 syllables
#97
in Ireland (2025)
49
babies in 2025
#78
best rank (2022)
899
babies since 1985
Up 22
10-year rank change
Phoebe through the years
Compare with another name →Show the numbers
| Year | Babies (girls) | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 49 | #97 |
| 2024 | 62 | #82 |
| 2023 | 51 | #100 |
| 2022 | 70 | #78 |
| 2021 | 43 | #124 |
| 2020 | 40 | #128 |
| 2019 | 39 | #139 |
| 2018 | 53 | #111 |
| 2017 | 41 | #137 |
| 2016 | 44 | #133 |
| 2015 | 54 | #119 |
| 2014 | 31 | #175 |
| 2013 | 29 | #197 |
| 2012 | 27 | #208 |
| 2011 | 24 | #220 |
| 2010 | 21 | #255 |
| 2009 | 22 | #239 |
| 2008 | 17 | #291 |
| 2007 | 16 | #286 |
| 2006 | 12 | #326 |
| 2005 | 9 | #372 |
| 2004 | 6 | #476 |
| 2003 | 18 | #212 |
| 2002 | 11 | #289 |
| 2001 | 9 | #315 |
| 2000 | 15 | #227 |
| 1999 | 7 | #323 |
| 1998 | 8 | #293 |
| 1997 | 18 | #235 |
| 1996 | 11 | #279 |
| 1995 | 3 | #516 |
| 1994 | 3 | #502 |
| 1993 | 3 | #516 |
| 1992 | 9 | #323 |
| 1990 | 10 | #303 |
| 1989 | 5 | #408 |
| 1988 | 3 | #492 |
| 1986 | 3 | #521 |
| 1985 | 3 | #519 |
Source: CSO, Irish Babies' Names (VSA50, VSA60), CC BY 4.0.
★ What does Phoebe mean?
Bright
Greek, from Phoibē, the feminine of Phoibos (bright).
Say it right
FEEbee
The story of Phoebe
Phoebe comes from the Greek Phoibē, the feminine of Phoibos, meaning bright or shining. Phoibos, or Phoebus in Latin, was a title of the god Apollo.
In Greek myth Phoebe was a Titan linked with the moon, and later poets used her name for the moon goddesses Selene and Artemis. A Phoebe also appears in the New Testament, praised by Saint Paul in his letter to the Romans, and one of the moons of Saturn is named Phoebe.
In Ireland Phoebe first reached the CSO list in 1985 and stayed uncommon into the 2000s. Its best year was 2022, when 70 girls got the name and it reached number 78. It is more popular in Northern Ireland, where it ranked 25th in 2025, its highest place there so far.
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Sources
- Wiktionary: Phoebe (English proper noun)
- Wikipedia: Phoebe (given name)
- CSO VSA60, Girls Names in Ireland with 3 or More Occurrences
- NISRA Baby Names, Northern Ireland
At a glance
Similar names
Sibling ideas
Spellings counted here
| Spelling | 2025 | All years |
|---|---|---|
| Phoebe | 49 | 899 |
In Northern Ireland
#25 in 2025 with 52 babies. Best rank #25 (2025); 875 babies since 1997.
Source: NISRA, Open Government Licence.