Phebe Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
The name Phebe has roots in Greek, meaning 'bright' or 'radiant'. It evolved from the ancient Greek 'Phoibe' to its modern forms. The name is linked to positive traits such as brightness and warmth, and it has biblical relevance as a deaconess in the New Testament. Phebe has a historical presence, particularly in Christian communities, and is viewed today as a classic name with a friendly image.
The name Phebe is most popular in New York, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Girl name among the G.I. Generation generation in the Northeast region. Recent 3-year trends show this Girl name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. From 2020-2022, Phebe has been stalled for female in MidWest, stalled for female in Northeast, stalled for female in South, stalled for female in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been stalled for female in MidWest, stalled for female in Northeast, stalled for female in South, stalled for female in West. Across generations, 'Phebe' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 1414th out of 9107 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 1899th out of 9204 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 3123rd out of 12526 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 3796th out of 19264 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 5704th out of 27321 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 4365th out of 35406 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 4484th out of 30306 names. Discover how the name 'Phebe' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Phebe"
Pronunciation
/ˈfiːbi/
Origin
Greek
Etymology
The name Phebe is derived from the Greek name 'Phoibe', which means 'bright' or 'radiant'. It is often associated with the moon and light.
Meaning
bright, radiant
Language Evolution
Phoibe (Ancient Greek), Phebe (Latinized form), Phebe (Modern English)
Biblical Background
Phebe is a name mentioned in the New Testament of the Bible, specifically in the Book of Romans, where she is described as a deaconess of the church at Cenchreae.
Historical Usage
The name Phebe gained popularity in the early Christian era due to its biblical association and has remained in use throughout the centuries.
Variants & Derivatives
Phoebe, Phebe
Modern Popularity & Image
Currently, Phebe is regarded as a classic and somewhat vintage name, often associated with warmth and friendliness.
Famous People
Phebe Ann Thorne (American actress), Phebe McAdams (notable author)
Explore More Phebe Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Phebe"
Note: Years with identical rankings may represent different numbers of births. Data is sourced from Social Security card applications for births in the United States.
Yearly Ranking History of "Phebe"
"Phebe" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Girl | 1414th of 9107 | 551 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Girl | 1899th of 9204 | 344 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Girl | 3123rd of 12526 | 269 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Girl | 3796th of 19264 | 265 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Girl | 5704th of 27321 | 229 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Girl | 4365th of 35406 | 500 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Girl | 4484th of 30306 | 374 |
Regional Popularity of "Phebe" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - | - | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- | - | - | - |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
Regional Popularity of "Phebe" by Generation for Female Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- |
72.66% 1002nd/1379 |
- |
100.00% 1142nd/1142 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
100.00% 1546th/1546 |
- | - | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- |
95.80% 2328th/2430 |
- | - |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- | - | - | - |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - | - |
100.00% 6317th/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
100.00% 4582nd/4582 |
83.15% 4294th/5164 |
83.69% 6120th/7313 |
94.43% 7047th/7463 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - |
87.73% 5985th/6822 |
94.39% 5924th/6276 |
State-by-State Popularity of "Phebe"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Phebe" across states, calculated by dividing the number of births with this name in each state by the total births in that state. This methodology provides a standardized measure of popularity regardless of state population size.