Phoebe or Phœbe (/ˈfbi/ FEE-bee;[1] Ancient Greek: Φοίβη, romanizedPhoíbē) is a female name, the feminine form of the male name Phoebus (Φοῖβος), an epithet of Apollo meaning "bright", "shining", and “pure”.

Phoebe
GenderFeminine
Language(s)Greek
Origin
Meaning“Bright, shining”
Other names
Variant form(s)Febe, Fébé, Fibi, Phebe, Pheaby, Phebea, Phebie, Pheby, Pheebe, Pheeby, Phobe, Phoeba, Phoebea, Phoebee, Phoebey, Phoebi, Phoebie, Phoeby
Related namesFerbia, Ferby, Fereba, Ferebee, Fereby, Feribie, Ferriby, Phearoby, Pherba, Pheraba, Pheribee, Pheriby, Pheroba,

In Greek mythology, Phoebe was a Titan associated with the power of prophecy as well as the moon. This was also an epithet of her granddaughter Artemis. A moon of Saturn bears this name in honor of the Titan. A certain Phoebe also appears in Paul the Apostle's Epistle to the Romans in the New Testament, a female minister in the church at Kechries near Corinth.

An alternate spelling is Phebe, and an older style Phœbe. Phereby and numerous phonetic spellings of the name are variants of Phoebe that developed in the American South.[2] [3]

The name was popular in the Anglosphere during the 17th century.[4] Phoebe has increased in usage in English-speaking countries since the 1990s. Phoebe Buffay, a main character on the American television series Friends, which aired from 1994 to 2004, helped popularize the name.

People with the given name Phoebe

edit

Women named Fébé

edit

People with the surname Phoebe

edit

Biblical and mythological figures

edit

Fictional characters

edit

In books

edit

In film and television

edit

In games

edit

Toys

edit

Other

edit

See also

edit

References

edit
  1. ^ "Phoebe", and "Phebe". Dictionary.com. Retrieved 8 January 2020.
  2. ^ Charbonneau, Karen (March 17, 2023). American Baby Girl Names: 1587-1920s. Post Falls, Idaho: A Ship's Cat Book. p. 814. ASIN B0BYTTGH3L.
  3. ^ "Female Names in the Upper New River Valley - OP".
  4. ^ Hanks, Patrick; Hardcastle, Kate; Hodges, Flavia (2006). Oxford Dictionary of First Names. Oxford University Press. p. 220. ISBN 0-19-861060-2.