Phebe
Phebe was the 5669th most popular name for girls in 2025, given to 22 babies. Its best year was 1882, when it ranked 357th; the most babies were born in 2011 (45). Over the last ten years it has moved down 842 places. More babies were named Phebe in the 2010s than in any other decade.
Meaning (as Phoebe) bright, shining · Greek
- Rank in 2025
- #5,669 girls, down 1,147 places since 2020
- Babies in 2025
- 22girls
- Girls and boys
- Almost always a girl’s name2021–2025
- Peak year
- 201145 babies
- Total since 1880
- 2,958babies recorded
What does the name Phebe mean?
Phebe is a spelling of Phoebe, pronounced the same way, so it shares Phoebe's meaning and origin.
Phoebe is the Greek Phoibe, the feminine of Phoibos, 'bright, shining, pure', a title of the god Apollo. In myth Phoebe is a Titan linked with the moon, and the name was also used of Artemis, as Wikipedia notes. DMNES adds that Phoebe is a woman Paul commends in his letter to the Romans, later honored as a saint, and that the name was rare before the 16th century. The Wycliffite Bible spelled it Feben.
Φοίβη (Ancient Greek, “Phoibe”)φοῖβος (Ancient Greek, “bright, pure”)
How sure is this? Well established.
Related names: Phebe, Febe, Phoebus.
See also: Greek names, names that mean light.
Sources for this meaning
- Dictionary of Medieval Names from European Sources, ed. S. L. Uckelman, Edition 2023 no. 1, s.v. 'Phoebe', Durham University / The DMNES Editors
- New Testament, Romans 16:1 (Greek text and translations via Bible Gateway), Bible Gateway
- Wiktionary, entry 'Phoebe', Wiktionary (Wikimedia Foundation); facts restated, no text reused
- Wikipedia, 'Phoebe (given name)', Wikipedia (Wikimedia Foundation); facts restated, no text reused
Phebe popularity since 1880
| Year | Rank (girls) | Babies (girls) |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #5,669 | 22 |
| 2020 | #4,522 | 30 |
| 2010 | #4,279 | 35 |
| 2000 | #5,271 | 22 |
| 1990 | #6,053 | 15 |
| 1980 | #4,680 | 16 |
| 1970 | #3,177 | 21 |
| 1960 | #3,641 | 13 |
| 1950 | #3,017 | 13 |
| 1940 | #2,278 | 14 |
| 1930 | #1,524 | 27 |
| 1920 | #1,620 | 27 |
| 1910 | #1,603 | 10 |
| 1900 | #795 | 22 |
| 1890 | #596 | 20 |
| 1880 | #447 | 15 |
How popular is Phebe, counting every spelling?
Phebe is a spelling of Phoebe, a name family that ranked #183 for girls in 2025 once every spelling is counted together, compared with #5,669 for Phebe on its own. Together these spellings went to 1,907 girls in 2025.
| Spelling | Babies 2025 | Official rank | Babies 2021–2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phoebe | 1,885 | #157 | 7,747 |
| Phebe | 22 | #5,669 | 131 |
Spellings count together when they sound the same in American English and are used for the same sex; nicknames and forms that sound different (such as Theo and Theodore) are kept apart. How we group spellings.
How many kids will share the name Phebe?
22 of the 3,606,400 babies born in the US in 2025 were named Phebe (0.01 per 1,000 births). For a girl named Phebe born in 2025, the chance that another child with the same name is in a class of 20 children the same age is under 1 in 50. If every grade liked the name as much as the 2025 babies do, only about one elementary school in 381 (of 430 pupils) would have a child named Phebe.
Shares of all registered births (NCHS); classes assumed to be children born the same year. How we estimate this.
How old are people named Phebe?
About 1,700 people born in the US named Phebe are alive today, with a median age of 27; half are between 14 and 54. That makes Phebe mostly worn by children and young adults. The wide spread shows a name popular in two different eras.
Babies given the name each year (SSA) times the share of that birth year still alive (SSA life tables). Counts people born in the US only. Method.
Phebe by state
How common Phebe was among girls born in each state in 2021–2025. In 49 states fewer than five girls a year got the name, too few for SSA to publish, so those states show as zero.
Names with a similar history
These names rose and fell in step with Phebe: their share of US girls followed the most similar curve since 1880. If you like Phebe, they share its era and feel.
Questions about the name Phebe
What does Phebe mean?
Phebe is a spelling of Phoebe, which means “bright, shining” (Greek origin). Certainty: well established.
How popular is the name Phebe?
Phebe was the 5669th most popular name for girls in 2025, given to 22 babies. Its best year was 1882, when it ranked 357th; the most babies were born in 2011 (45). Over the last ten years it has moved down 842 places. More babies were named Phebe in the 2010s than in any other decade.
Is Phebe a boy or girl name?
In 2021–2025, almost always a girl’s name given the name Phebe in the US.
Where is Phebe most popular?
In 2021–2025, Phebe was most common in Florida (0.01 per 1,000 girls), followed by California and California.