Felix or Phoenix?

Felix

Well, I guess I'm in the minority who prefers Phoenix 😅

Felix 100%

It's my DS8 name
I have had people mention the cat but it doesn't bother me in the slightest. He finds it hilarious going down the cat food aisle and wants us to buy that food for our cat. (Who actually has a very human name).

DD was at school with a Phoenix, he kept asking her to show him her knickers (aged about 7) but aside from that association for me it’s a perfectly fine name. Felix is nice too but as many have pointed out, this is mumsnet and middle class names are often preferred. My DS name is often ridiculed on here the way Phoenix has been on this thread. IRL I’d say reactions to his name are 50:50. Pick with your heart OP, they’re both nice names.

Those that have a child called Felix and who say no-one has ever mentioned the cat thing to them is probably because people are being polite, as they should be, but I'll bet your bottom dollar at lot of them have thought it.

My son has a marmite old man name and I have only ever heard the positive reactions to it, but I'm pretty certain there are people out there who think 'what an ugly name for a little boy'. Thankfully in real life most people are polite and appreciate we all have different tastes. Mumsnet is a forum where we can anonymously express our true feelings!

Exactly - I’m only half British and that’s also why I picked it as it works well in my other country - where no one has heard of Felix the Cat.

See also:

Felix Mendelssohn
Prince Felix of Denmark
Felix Baumgartner
Felix Dennis

as well as multiple popes.

My Felix has never had this mentioned either. I tend to think ‘tank engine’ when I hear Thomas and ‘fireman’ when I hear Sam, but I like both names and wouldn’t ever think to say ‘ooh Thomas, haha, is that not a name for a train?’ or suggest that all Thomas’s are awful because I wouldn’t choose it for my child.

It’s just a name, an inoffensive name that has always been extremely popular in the German speaking world, but also works pronunciation wise in the U.K. and has a nice meaning, (which was why I picked it!)

Felix.

The only Phoenix I know is a a girl, and known as Fee (Phee?)

I don't think anyone thinks that "they're hilarious".

I wasn't trying to be funny when I said, in a fairly early post on this thread, that Felix is a great name for a cat. It was genuinely my first, instinctive reaction.

I must have seen Felix cat food adverts hundreds, if not thousands, of times, over my lifetime. I have a vague awareness of an old cartoon cat called Felix. It's traditionally a common name for male pet cats (a bit like Fido for dogs).

But I have only ever known one person called Felix. So when I hear the name, my first thought is "cat".

Maybe most people you know won't have thought that when you told them your ds's name. But some will have. Fortunately, most people have good manners and if they have thoughts that could be perceived as negative or rude, they won't voice them.

I don't think that using Fenix is a good idea. It sounds as though someone has heard the name Phoenix but has never seen it written down so has used their phonics to come up with a plausible spelling.

A bird or a cat?

I only know Phoenix as a girl's name and Felix as a boy's name

Felix. It’s getting popular though. DD has two in her preschool class.

I have an 11 year old Felix and the cat thing has never ever been mentioned either to me or him. It’s only on MN that posters think they’re hilarious with Felix = Cat. There’s lots of animals with human names in popular culture.

Felix
phoenix has strong connections to the trans community if that bothers you.

I prefer Phoenix too. I wanted to name my daughter Artemisia, but her Dad (now my ex) said no.

I know a Fenix if you want to combine.

But people hear phoenix as Felix quite a lot if you go for phoenix.

The only Phoenix’s I’ve ever met have given themselves that name and ditched their old one. Presumably because they’ve risen from the ashes or something. Like, one Phoenix used to be called Louise. They’ve always ‘gone through’ something.

Felix. Phoenix so gimmicky.

I know a female Phoenix- it suits her.

Never been keen on the name Felix but not sure why - it is a fairly normal mainstream name.

Phoenix.

Felix is fairly popular or has been in recent years, and I find it a bit silly and weirdly irritating, and it's definitely a cats name. For a long time I thought it actually meant cat as I so associate it with a cat, and possible the 'Fel' bit as in feline.

I used to think Phoenix was absolutely bonkers totally off the wall choice when a friend picked it a few years ago for her son, however, I'm very used to it now and think it's really cool and I actually like it. He can always shorten it to 'Finn' or Nix, if he ends up not liking it.

Felix is boring and silly, Phoenix is interesting and exciting. In my opinion of course.

Love the idea of a name being "OK for London" 😊

Phoenix is not particularly unusual in certain circles. I prefer Felix.

Felix, definitely. It means happiness and good fortune, which is a nice thing.

@SkyPanel James the Cat..... I've suddenly had a whoooosh I remember that memory 😁