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Baby names

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

Original poster

Phoebe

136 replies

LolaBumble · 27/01/2026 09:08

Help I’m 39 weeks pregnant

Just now considering Phoebe… I love the nicknames Pheebs and Bea.

Would Alys work as a middle name?

My husband is not sure because he thinks of Phoebe Buffay - but I think that’s just because he doesn’t know any other Phoebes! I have a friend called Pheobe and think of her when I hear the name instead.

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NamingNoNames · 27/01/2026 15:04

@TreadLightlyToo , Pheobe is more popular than Phebe though.

@dailyconniptions , cross-posted. The spelling was taken from Baby name explorer.

dailyconniptions · 27/01/2026 15:04

NamingNoNames · 27/01/2026 14:38

Because you used it? Pheobe seems more popular.

No that's a spelling mistake. It's PhOEbe.

HelenHywater · 27/01/2026 14:59

I have a Phoebe who is the very opposite of feeble! I call her Bee or Fee. She loves her name (she's grown up now) and I don't think there's any connection ever been made with Friends. She did go through a phase of being obsesssed with Charmed and there's a Phoebe in that. She's also loves the meaning of Phoebe.

Bournetilly · 27/01/2026 14:56

I don’t like Phoebe but Alys works well as a middle name.

wafflesmgee · 27/01/2026 14:55

I love Phoebe, not common at all at the moment either

TreadLightlyToo · 27/01/2026 14:54

NamingNoNames · 27/01/2026 14:38

Because you used it? Pheobe seems more popular.

MN generally disapproves of alternative spellings & Phoebe is the more common spelling. 😁

Waitingformychinesetakeaway · 27/01/2026 14:42

I like Phoebe, it’s really popular.

NamingNoNames · 27/01/2026 14:38

Because you used it? Pheobe seems more popular.

TreadLightlyToo · 27/01/2026 14:32

Ha! I'm going to upset MN now, I have a Phebe, yup no 'O', DH picked the name but I didn't like the silent o & found out that the name has been commonly used without it.

My Phebe is 23, small but definitely not feeble! And apart from cursing me for making her life difficult by removing the o she's been quite happy with it. She's mostly called Phebe, occasionally Peebs, & I call her Fifi.

Even now typing this I find the look of Phebe infinitely more pleasing than Phoebe, no idea why??

Pyjamatimenow · 27/01/2026 13:55

I have a Phoebe. Never regretted it. Still love it. Alys sounds fine with it. Dd has a similar middle. Anything short and sweet goes with it. Sometimes call her feebs but she’s mostly just Phoebe. As pp she’s definitely not feeble. She’s incredibly sporty, feisty and funny.

OttersMayHaveShifted · 27/01/2026 13:49

Perfectly nice name. Phoebe Buffay certainly isn't the only one. I've taught loads of Phoebes over the years. There are 5 in my school currently, which is fewer than I'd have guessed - it's fairly popular!

Idontknowhatnametochoose · 27/01/2026 13:47

I love the name Phoebe.

NamingNoNames · 27/01/2026 13:44

She can use Alys if she likes but it looks like a 'welshified' spelling. I'd feel the same about names like Lili, Nansi and Elsi but they don't go with Phoebe however they're spelt.

luckylavender · 27/01/2026 13:33

GoldDuster · 27/01/2026 09:29

Could you go for Alice?

Phoebe also has me going down the weak and feeble path. Then I go Pheobe Buffay bonkers purple fluffy cardies and cats. I'd go for something stronger.

Why can’t she have the Welsh spelling?
Phoebe Alys is lovely.

RuthW · 27/01/2026 13:09

Lovely name. Go for it. My dd was very nearly Phoebe.

NamingNoNames · 27/01/2026 13:04

Anyone who thinks it didn't pre-date the show Friends is showing their ignorance.
It wasn't popular before Friends.

Alice is nicer than Phoebe. I don't like Feebs. I don't like the Alys spellings (might be OK with a Welsh first name) and Nia doesn't work as a middle name with Phoebe - it will sound like Fee be near.

MaloryJones · 27/01/2026 13:02

IMO Phoebe is a nice name , but I don't personally like the shortened names you would use.
Alys is lovely though.

Cookiesandbeans · 27/01/2026 12:47

Everlore · 27/01/2026 11:04

For what it's worth, I personally think Phoebe is a lovely name, timeless and classy. Anyone who thinks it didn't pre-date the show Friends is showing their ignorance. There are a couple of Phoebes in baby groups we attend and I always think it sounds pretty and sounds equally good for a child or adult.
However, my top baby naming tip, which I always offer on threads like this and which, I am aware, undermines the entire point of this forum and also renders my own comment pointless, is to never canvas strangers on the internet for advice on your putative name choices!
You will never get objective, useful advice this way. As exemplified on this thread, what you will actually receive are personal and arbitrary comments from posters whose dislike of the name you are suggesting will be entirely subjective and often irrational. It really does not matter if internet commenters you will never meet like the name, all that matters is that you like it. There is absolutely no name which you could suggest on here which everyone would like. People bring their own individual prejudices to conversations like this and will shoot down names for reasons as personal as having been to school with someone with the name in question who they didn't like or that it reminds them of something entirely unrelated.
My advice goes double for asking any friends and family for name feedback. Pick the name and then present it as a fait accomplis when your beautiful baby has arrived. People are usually too polite to do anything but smile and compliment the name once it's a done deal. Mention your name choices before this point and everyone will stick their oar in. Wishing you and your family all the best for the wonderful new arrival!

Great comment -intelligent,constructive and kind . Thank you!

Startthecar · 27/01/2026 12:26

Never been a fan of the name Phoebe, and I can't say I like the short names Pheebs or Bea. However, Alys is delicate and pretty, and sounds lovely with Phoebe if you go with that name.

HopefulYankee · 27/01/2026 12:17

Phoebe, Alys and Nia are beautiful and very feminine names. I love Phoebe Alys. Alys Nia is lovely too.

amy480 · 27/01/2026 12:15

Lovely name. I don’t see the Phoebe Buffay reference as a negative but in your daughter’s friendship circle as she gets older the Friends association will mean very little. Alys / Alice is gorgeous and if I had to choose I’d go Alys / Alice but both nice, solid names in my humble opinion!
I have canvassed opinions on my potential baby names in the past and whilst it can be helpful, it is quite rare to get a name that everyone loves and people can be quite brutal so try not to dwell too much on the negative comments if it’s a name you love.

Dinosaursdontgrowontrees · 27/01/2026 11:51

I really like it. Phoebe Alys is a great name.

Original poster
LolaBumble · 27/01/2026 11:50

Thank you for your replies! I actually love it more the more I think about it 🥰 hadn’t thought about the ‘feeble’ sounding association but don’t really see that as a problem!

OP posts:
agirlandherdog1234 · 27/01/2026 11:48

Jumimo · 27/01/2026 10:20

Care to share your kids names so I can tell you how awful they are?

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👏
People are so rude about names on here.

Tryagain26 · 27/01/2026 11:47

Phoebe is a perfectly acceptable name I don't think about friends when i hear the name. I know two children called Phoebe and I think about them.

Also Friends is now a fairly old programme today's Phoebe's won't even have heard about it.