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Baby names

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

Original poster

Phoebe or Beatrice

52 replies

Bella1905 · 07/09/2025 20:30

If you had to choose between both names which would you go for please? Thanks

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sellotapechicken · 08/01/2026 23:00

Phoebe

LostittoBostik · 08/01/2026 23:00

Phoebe. Or perhaps Beatrix?

Pettenell · 08/01/2026 22:58

Both are really good names, so a tough choice. And, as has been said, both give the nn Bee/Bea. Does one of them work better with the surname?

I'd probably go with Beatrice, but if Phoebe is your favourite I hope it gets over the line!

Pyjamatimenow · 08/01/2026 22:57

I have a Phoebe and she likes her name and I still absolutely love it. We don’t meet many others.

BettyTurpinPies · 08/01/2026 22:54

Zombie thread

I might be wrong @Peanutlicious ,
but I think the baby has been named a while ago

and the father vetoed the name Phoebe.
The thread is from 4 months ago.

Peanutlicious · 08/01/2026 22:48

Phoebe

Dearnurse · 15/09/2025 02:11

I love Beatrice, bea or trixie are fab nicknames too x

Sportsdaywinner · 13/09/2025 00:19

Both lovely
But prefer Phoebe

Firebird83 · 12/09/2025 19:46

Beatrice. Phoebe makes me think of feeble.

Calliopespa · 12/09/2025 13:38

Alexandrine · 07/09/2025 23:12

Beatrice is quite pretty and I like its literary heritage. “Bee” is a nice shortening if wanted. Phoebe has too many “ee” sounds for me personally and I don’t think “Fee/Feebs” which is likely, is as nice a nn.

I'm the same: too many oh-ee-bee hee-bee-jeebies sounds in Phoebe for me.

It always makes me think of amoeba or feeble.

But I love Beatice - and both can be Bea for short.

Agree pp and was thinking this the other day: why isn't Beatrix used much? maybe sounds like Bellatrix?

Teenagerantruns · 12/09/2025 10:53

Phoebe.

caityvh · 12/09/2025 10:51

Phoebe

UninitendedShark · 09/09/2025 18:50

Beatrice, but I prefer Beatrix

Blogswife · 08/09/2025 23:29

Beatrice - it’s a beautiful name

UrbanSquirrel · 08/09/2025 23:07

Voting for Beatrice as we have a seven-month-old Bea. 😊 I’m biased of course, but I find Phoebe rather limp in comparison, and it always makes me think of Friends, which shows my age.

We chose Beatrice due to the literary links - a gloriously feisty Shakespearean heroine - and it’s a name which works beautifully in lots of different languages. We’ve had a universally positive response to the name (though obviously no one is going to say to our faces that they hate it 😉). Plus, Bea suits her down to the ground too: vibrant, lively and fun. I always think a name should work for your child whether they turn out to be a high court judge or a DJ, and I feel Beatrice / Bea fits that criterion.

But then, as I said, I’m biased. Good luck with your choice! x

LiquoriceAllsorts2 · 08/09/2025 22:48

Phoebe

Nextdoormat · 08/09/2025 20:50

Bea

IfHeWantedToHeWould · 08/09/2025 20:48

Phoebe! I don’t like Beatrice at all.

CarriMarie · 08/09/2025 19:09

Phoebe

AllPlayedOut · 08/09/2025 18:24

Phoebe. I don’t like Beatrice at all.

RuthW · 08/09/2025 18:16

I’d struggle- both lovely

TaupeMember · 08/09/2025 10:53

Phoebe!

Beatrice sounds a bit wet blanket

Agree Bea is nice as nn for either

BettyTurpinPies · 08/09/2025 10:34

I like both. Prefer Phoebe but dislike Phoebs, so Beatrice.

Eenameenadeeka · 08/09/2025 09:21

Beatrice

lifeturnsonadime · 08/09/2025 09:16

Bella1905 · 08/09/2025 09:07

Thanks all. @JillyGiraffei also prefer Phoebe (my husband not so keen) and would love her nickname to be Bee/Bea

You could shorten Phoebe to bee!

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