How popular is Phoebe? How many are there likely to be in year groups at school?

[GoldenDaffodil]

DH and I found out we are expecting a girl on Friday so we're narrowing down our name choices. We've both added suggestions to the shortlist but the only name we both love (rather then just like) is Phoebe. As it is in the top 30 I wondered how many Phoebe's are likely to be in a year group at school. My own name (Emma) was extremely popular in the 80s and there were 4 of us in both my primary & secondary year groups which drove me mad. Any advice would be appreciated.

Oh god, there are hundreds of phoebes. Specially in middle-class areas. Though most of them are older than newborn age, probably young teens/pre-teens.

I don't like the name personally, but even if I did I'd avoid just because there are so many of them around. A bit like Freya which we were considering for dc2, except that we suddenly realised it had become really overused.

I love it and only know 1 in RL and that Tess Daly has a Phoebe.

Lovely classic name imo

I only know one and she is middle class and now 19. None in either of DC's nurseries or playgroup. Phoebe was one of my favourites too.

I have 3 primary aged children and don't know any Phoebe's..quite middle class area. I like it.

I don't know any and I know a lot of children!

I live in a pretty middle class area in the South East, and I don't know any Phoebes of any age.

I think it is a really pretty name - go for it if you love it!

I don't know any Phoebes at all. I love the name.

I don't think that there are many in my area. I don't know any!

I think that there might be a Phoebe at DD's school but she's in a different class.

I live in a middle class area we have only 2 pheobe's in the whole of the dc's school. Go for it I was another horrifically common name from the 70's and I completely understand, but I don't think phoebe is anywhere near that popular. (surprisingly as it is a lovely name).

We also like Phoebe for a potential DD, and I was also worried. But I don't know a single one in RL even though I live in the sort of area you would expect there to be lots. My Dad had an aunt Phoebe who I remember as a bright eyed eccentric old lady with great stories to tell of when she was a midwife, so I think of it as one of those old lady names that has come back in, like Ruby. I love it!

I love Phoebe, which is why it's dd1's name now 13. Only other one I know of is in yr4. Be prepared for people to spell it wrong though - one of the TA's never once got it right in 7 years of primary!

It's a nice name but it is very popular round here (Sheffield) ime. We have at least 1 or 2 in every year group in the infant school I work at, and in DD's small primary school of 90 there were 3 or 4 at one point.

i know 2 phoebes. Both are under 6 months old. Seems a very popular name of the moment (bit like Amelie and Emilia were 2-3 yr ago) but maybe that's just my social circle

Thank you very much for your replies. DH and I have got until July to make our minds up so I'm going to try and get a sense of how popular the name is in Kent where we live. We've joined the local branch of NCT so I'm going to do some subtle research at local gatherings. It doesn't bother me that our DD wouldn't be the only child with the name at school it would be having several in each class that would put me off.

I don't know anyone of any age called Phoebe.

I live in a 'naice' area of London with primary and nursery aged children, and only know one Phoebe. Nice name.

Very common girls names seem to be:
Freya
Isabella / Isobel
Grace
Eve/Eva/Evie
Ava
Annabel
Lily
Olivia
Poppy
Ivy
Ella
Sophie / Sophia

I love the name Phoebe. The only person I have ever met with that name is about 25 now.

DD (5) has a Phoebe in her class. I think there's another one further up the school.

Not an esp middle class area.

I know 4 of primary school age, I used to like it and I love it written it down but when you say it a lot it begins to sound a bit odd (I am a teacher with 2 in my class so I do say it quite a lot) Perhaps because it's 2 words in their own right which would never be said together fee-bee.

Sorry, I'm rambling now

Don't know any Phoebes, fairly MC rural area where I'd have expected some.
It's a lovely name!

I really like Phoebe and i don't think it will be like Emma / Sarah when we were growing up. It's out for me though as I callef my cat Phoebe

You should try to find the episode of Friends in which Christina Applegate plays Rachel's spoiled and stupid sister - when Phoebe introduces herself the sister turns to Rachel and says "why does she keep making that noise"? It's very funny.

There is a child in the Archers called Phoebe, usually shortened to "Feebs" so you'd have to be ready for that from her school chums.

i have a Phoebe. She has been in 3 different schools so far and has been the only one in her year group each time. There is usually say one other in the whole school.

I love the name.

Oh and none of her friends call her Feebs yet, only a couple of adults have so far which I don't like.

We call her Fee or Bee or Bibi (which her younger brother called her when he couldn't pronounce her name). all v cute I think.

I've never ever met one and only know of the one from friends, though am not all that concerned about popularity. It may be annoying for a few years at school to have another one in the class or year but at work you won't have to walk around with a name badge saying 'Sarah M' or similar!