Help protect children from gaming harms.

Take our survey

Please or to access all these features

Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

Is Phoebe too popular?

36 replies

UnoriginalNN · 25/10/2016 12:34

I thought we were sorted on the name front, but DH just threw in Phoebe as a curveball and I really like it.

I see it's now in the top 30 which doesn't really bother me and I don't know any personally but I live in the middle of nowhere

Is it becoming too popular?

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
New posts on this thread. Refresh page
NipSlipper · 27/10/2016 15:41

I know one 8 yr old Phoebe. It isn't popular/common where I am (London). Its a lovely name.

MrsCaecilius · 27/10/2016 12:40

Love it. Really pretty. The only one I know is my mum's cat - but I certainly don't consider it a cat-only name! (Her other cats are Emma and Oliver...).

Anna is lovely too, but to me Phoebe is a bit different, in a classic way.

NameChange30 · 27/10/2016 08:13

Assuming you live in England, Phoebe was #21 last year - 1,978 babies were given the name.

Anna was less popular but it's very common for my generation (born in the mid-80s) so I would avoid, personally.

derektheladyhamster · 27/10/2016 08:12

I know 3 teens and 1 primary aged. Lovely name

destinywidow · 27/10/2016 08:11

Ohh and my choice of name has nothing to do with "friends", I fell in love with the name when I was little after watching gremlins and drop dead Fred, the main actress is called Phoebe.

destinywidow · 27/10/2016 08:09

My 3 year old is called Phoebe and I love it (obviously!)

I hadn't heard of a single Phoebe before I had my daughter but found out there was a girl at my sons preschool with the same name (same spelling too).

The only problem I had was mil asking how to spell it all the time, she got there after a couple of months Smile

Queenbean · 27/10/2016 08:09

I love both Phoebe and Anna, stylish classic names

Hebe is an awful name, sounds like a disease or a shipping container

StrawberrytallCake · 27/10/2016 08:06

Phoebe is a really lovely name, I only know one!

Ditsy I had a hamster called George (who I liked to imagine was from New York) and would definitely have called a ds George if I'd had one....so that might happen.

Ditsy4 · 27/10/2016 07:59

I don't know any but my daughter named her cat Phoebe when she was five. It is a lovely name and I wonder if she has any children if Phoebe will be on the list( cat long gone :( ).

NameChange30 · 27/10/2016 07:55

Love Phoebe! It's a million times nicer than Anna.

I would only worry about something being too popular if it was in the top 10, and even then it wouldn't stop me using a name I loved.

onecurrantbun1 · 27/10/2016 07:52

Amelia was #1 in 2015 with 5200 babies given the name. Out of 697,000 births that's only 0.75% of babies given that name - presumably 1.5% of baby girls. I don't think top 30 would be all that common!

I have a little Phoebe (she's 2.5) and there is one in my eldest DD's reception class. I think it's lovely (obviously)!

idontlikealdi · 27/10/2016 07:32

Does it matter if it's too popular?

I know a few and reckon it's the Friends generation having kids.

Footle · 27/10/2016 07:24

Babybram, if you're going to use it you need to check the spelling.
I think Hebe is unusual because of the heebyjeebies.

Wishfulmakeupping · 27/10/2016 07:20

I only know one who must be about 7/8 now. Have you thought about Hebe? My friend has a little girl called Hebe similar sound but very unusual.

Babybram2017 · 27/10/2016 07:16

I have pheobe in my girl names choices :) i love it i dont hear of any pheobes around my area its a cute name Smile

Tryittwice · 27/10/2016 06:58

I only know one aged 20.

MotherDuckSaid · 27/10/2016 06:57

I've lived all over the place and have never met a phoebe , none in my children's school either. I'm surprised about it being top 30.
I like it 😊

UnoriginalNN · 26/10/2016 20:55

Thanks everyone, I thought it was way more popular!

OP posts:
MrsBellefleur · 26/10/2016 20:13

I have a Phoebe who's just over 3. Don't know any others, there are no others in her pre school and one of the workers said she hadn't had a Phoebe for about 18 years!

user1472334322 · 26/10/2016 20:10

I know one Phoebe who is 4. I really like it and don't think it's that popular. I've seem it spelt Phebe too, not sure about that!

JosephineMaynard · 25/10/2016 23:17

I've never met a single Phoebe.

I know a number of Anna's with ages ranging from 3 to 40.

BadToTheBone · 25/10/2016 23:12

Only know 2, both age 10.

allthatnonsense · 25/10/2016 23:01

Gorgeous name.

SansasEscape · 25/10/2016 22:46

The only one I know is my 23 year old sister.

BarInSpace · 25/10/2016 22:33

Both lovely names though I prefer Phoebe. I don't know any young Annas, and just one young Phoebe.

Swipe left for the next trending thread