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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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pamshortsbrokenbothherlegs · 23/01/2024 17:23

Artemis nn Misty for me. Definitely not Missy - I just think "prissy"! One of my guilty pleasure names.

Phoebe is lovely but growing up with several I just find it a bit done.

MillicentTheMagnificent · 23/01/2024 16:55

I think there is a female Artemis in Always Sunny a very grown up and sophisticated program I watch sometimes. So I think of it as a girls name.

itsmyp4rty · 23/01/2024 16:53

I'm another one who thought Artemis was a boys name. Perhaps because the only one I'd ever heard of was Artemis Fowl. It sounds very masculine to me though.
Phoebe is much nicer. I also like Selene and Thalia for Greek names.

Moonglowl · 23/01/2024 16:37

I wouldn’t agree Phoebe is dull or overused at all. The trend for girls names seem to be short names ending in ‘a’, that all blend into one. Phoebe to me is a strong name with a great meaning and history. It’s never been in the top 20 so has never been over popular, and likely won’t date badly like trendy names that appear out of no where and disappear just as fast. This could actually happen with Artemis, although I don’t imagine it would get that popular.

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.

Kaamos · 23/01/2024 14:44

Phoebe

Loveinthedarkness · 23/01/2024 14:43

Learnt something new as thought Artemis sounded like a boys name

BeastAngelMadwoman · 23/01/2024 14:41

Definitely Phoebe for me

Strawberrycheesecake7 · 23/01/2024 14:40

I much prefer Phoebe. I don’t like Artemis at all but to each their own.

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

Procrastination4 · 23/01/2024 14:32

The only “Artemis” I had heard of was the book “Artemis Fowl”, so I had to look it up to discover that it’s a gender neutral name. Every day is a school day! (Think I still prefer Phoebe, though.)

Sockmate123 · 23/01/2024 14:28

Don't like either but Phoebe better of the two

Nap1983 · 23/01/2024 14:28

Phoebe is nice, cute even.
Artemis is ridiculous… honestly just dont

PickledScrump · 23/01/2024 14:26

Definitely Artemis, only met one, she must be about 10 now but was lovely. Went by Arty.

Phoebe is quite bland to me.

urbanbuddha · 23/01/2024 14:26

Artemis.

katseyes7 · 23/01/2024 14:25

Artemis. Missy for short.

MillicentTheMagnificent · 23/01/2024 14:25

Phoebe has a more pleasant sound (to me). It's a lovely name!

MrsSamR · 23/01/2024 14:23

There is a little Artemis in my daughter's nursery and she goes by the nickname Artie. I think it's lovely so that gets my vote!

Moonglowl · 23/01/2024 14:12

Phoebe. Such a beautiful name
Artemis is quite a cool name actually but would you really want to be called that?

jennylamb1 · 23/01/2024 10:13

I would go with Phoebe, sorry but Artemis sounds a little pretentious and is quite a name to be saddled with. A girl on my son's bus is called Boudicca and I'm afraid I do roll my eyes every time he talks about her.

KirstenBlest · 23/01/2024 10:10

They are quite different and both are nice. Wait until she arrives. She might not look like either. I'd call her Diana.

user1492757084 · 23/01/2024 10:03

I love them both.
They have nice meanings and are easy to spell and say.

Phoebe - Fe, Phoebs
Artemis - Arty Missy, Arty.

Choose the one that sounds the best with her surname.

cunningplan101 · 23/01/2024 10:03

In Spanish, it is Artemisa; or another Greek variant I think is Artemisia ("gift from Artemis") - in case you like either of those

I think either Phoebe or Artemis is lovely though

EffieGraysDisappointingWeddingNight · 23/01/2024 09:55

I like Phoebe but Artemis has a bit more sparkle to it.

theduchessofspork · 23/01/2024 09:54

MaloneMeadow · 23/01/2024 09:31

Phoebe 100%. Agree with PP that Artemis seems a bit try hard

Better not get above yourself OP

But anyway Artemis seems to be getting moderately popular so I don’t think it will be seen as try hard