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Baby names

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

Original poster

Phoebe or Artemis

86 replies

tulipsonatable · 23/01/2024 07:30

I have a three year old daughter with a Greek name, though maybe not recognisably so. I want to choose another Greek name for my daughter who will be born in the next few weeks.

We've narrowed the list down to Phoebe and Artemis, so it'll definitely be one of those names. The problem is I slightly lean towards one and my husband slightly leans towards the other.

Just wondering if you had to pick between the two, which would you pick?

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MaloneMeadow · 23/01/2024 21:39

Thatbloodyhedge · 23/01/2024 20:51

Artemis is an ugly harsh female mane regardless of its origin
I can't imagine my 15 year old self with a name like that

Have to agree with this one

CrushingOnRubies · 23/01/2024 21:11

100% Phoebe - love love it

I always thought/ assumed Artemis was a boys name Blush

Original poster
tulipsonatable · 23/01/2024 21:08

Thanks so much for all the constructive feedback! Names are so individual.

I'm still not sure which to go with (my husband prefers Phoebe, I prefer Artemis). With regard to the try-hard comments, if people are going to think that about us they'll probably think it for our first daughter's name anyway! 😂

OP posts:
SleepingStandingUp · 23/01/2024 21:07

toastofthetown · 23/01/2024 15:12

Artemis. It’s strong, and though rising, still is sonically distinct from the other name trends. Phoebe has been in the top fifty for the past 25 years and is just dull from overuse, and sound wise it blends in with every other soft sounding name ending with the -ee sound.

You say dull from overuse but I think it depends on your circles. I've never known one and I went to an all girls school

SleepingStandingUp · 23/01/2024 21:06

I think Artemis sounds quite masculine so would go with Phoebe

FlutteryButterfly · 23/01/2024 21:05

Love Artemis!

@tulipsonatable I know you've said you've narrowed it down to the two names but how about Thisbe?

toastofthetown · 23/01/2024 21:01

Blomdd · 23/01/2024 18:59

Has Phoebe really been in the top 50 for 25 years? I'm in my 30s and have only met Phoebes under the age of 10. Never met one! We considered this for a girl but had a boy.

Yes, though in the absence of data for 2022 & 2023, I assumed that it wouldn't have dropped 28 places to end up out of the top 50. Especially since it's been fairly stable for the past few years.
https://names.darkgreener.com/#phoebe

Baby Names in England & Wales

Find the perfect name for your baby or spot naming trends - explore the names chosen for babies in England and Wales since 1996.

https://names.darkgreener.com/#phoebe

Thatbloodyhedge · 23/01/2024 20:51

Artemis is an ugly harsh female mane regardless of its origin
I can't imagine my 15 year old self with a name like that

Elspethelf · 23/01/2024 20:44

Phoebe

EffieGraysDisappointingWeddingNight · 23/01/2024 20:42

Thatbloodyhedge · 23/01/2024 19:59

Artemis for a girl???
Oh no
She will be teased horribly

Of course for a girl. Artemis was a Greek goddess.

VenusClapTrap · 23/01/2024 20:07

Artemis is fabulous, strong and elegant.

Phoebe is boooring.

Thatbloodyhedge · 23/01/2024 19:59

Artemis for a girl???
Oh no
She will be teased horribly

Blomdd · 23/01/2024 18:59

Has Phoebe really been in the top 50 for 25 years? I'm in my 30s and have only met Phoebes under the age of 10. Never met one! We considered this for a girl but had a boy.

KirstenBlest · 23/01/2024 18:58

Ah! Interesting. My online translator only sounds slightly different.
Arr-temmis and Arr-temmys.
If I remember I'll ask my cypriot friend Νταϊάνα

Online translator isn't always correct.
Can't remember how my friend spells her name in English. I think it's Ntaiana

Dogsandbabies · 23/01/2024 18:52

'Αρτεμις is the female version and Αρτέμης is the male.

KirstenBlest · 23/01/2024 18:22

Oh OK.
How are they written in Greek?

Dogsandbabies · 23/01/2024 17:55

@KirstenBlest there are actually two very different Greek names (in the way they are written and accented). One is Artemis and the other is ArtEmis. The latter being a male name. In English they would be pronounced exactly the same I expect. Artemis is indeed a unisex name.

KirstenBlest · 23/01/2024 17:51

@user14699084788 , it is in the same way as Paris is.

It's like naming a boy Penelope or Daphne or a girl Poseidon or Heracles.

Just because people do it doesn't make it unisex.

Justrolledmyeyesoutloud · 23/01/2024 17:50

Windymcwindyson · 23/01/2024 09:32

Phoebe is a bit wet imo. Artemis is very cool. Conjures up a feisty dd!!

I know a Phoebe who is far from wet - feisty would be the exact word l would use to describe her!

user14699084788 · 23/01/2024 17:43

KirstenBlest · 23/01/2024 14:37

@Procrastination4 , Artemis was a greek goddess. It's not really unisex.

Not sure that a boy would like to be named after a goddess of nature, childbirth, wildlife, healing, the hunt, sudden death, animals, virginity, young women and archery

There’s a boy called Artemis at our school. Goes by Arty…popular sporty lad by all accounts. So I think it is unisex.

Lochroy · 23/01/2024 17:38

Happy to hold my hand up that I am completely ignorant when it comes to Greek names, but I would have assumed Artemis was a boys name.

Interesting to know it's not. It would have put me off using it, but there's nothing wrong with it.

I don't really see the two as comparable. One is a commonly used name and one isn't.

If your other DD's name isn't as common as Phoebe, then I wouldn't use Phoebe.

LlynTegid · 23/01/2024 17:37

Phoebe.

Onedayatatime22 · 23/01/2024 17:36

Not sure I like either much. Athena or Calypso?

Alloveragain3 · 23/01/2024 17:34

These names are worlds apart in my mind!

To me, Phoebe is much nicer but gaining in popularity recently

WeeOrcadian · 23/01/2024 17:33

Artemis reminds me of Aramis

Definitely Phoebe