Regret my daughter’s name Phoebe

[LondonAnnie]

Does anyone else regret the name you choose for your child?

My daughter’s Phoebe and I worry that other people might not like it ( didn’t realize it’s a marmite name ) that it’s too hard to spell ( we get Pheobe already didn’t think it would annoy me but it does ) or that she’ll get teased and be called Beefy ( didn’t think about that as a potential nickname when I choose her name ) or something else that’s mean .

Unfortunately it’s too late to change it now. She’s nearly 3. Other mums with a Phoebe, are you happy with that name?

Happy for any support !🙂 Thanks !

A beautiful name! (Sorry, I don't have a Phoebe, but couldn't help giving an opinion ) I love it as a name.
I have a DS who I thought was pretty straightforward to spell but we get all sorts

I don't have a Phoebe, but I think it's a lovely name!

I agree with Eileen, I don't have a Phoebe but it is a lovely name.

Beautiful name with a beautiful meaning. I have known several lovely Phoebes too.

Not a parent but a teacher. Phoebe is a LOVELY name. I've taught a few and there have never been issues with it.

Ok, don't be changing a 3 year olds name. That's ridiculous.

Where does 'beefy' come from?

Phoebe is a lovely name, my girl choices were Phoebe or Penelope.
Im having my third boy
Stop overthinking it x

It's a beautiful, elegant, timeless name.

Sorry, I don't have a Phoebe, but I really, really love the name. It's so poetic and literary, IMO. It always makes me think of one of my favourite passages from Richard II. There's a Phoebe in my DD's class and it suits her so well. Gorgeous name. Hope you start to love it again!

Can't imagine Beefy, to be honest. Doesn't even rhyme with Phoebe and it doesn't seem like something kids would even say!

Why would she be called Beefy? Is it people in real life that are making you think it’s a Marmite name or is it stuff you’re reading online? Because in real life, I don’t think most people think that much about other people’s names or care either way.

I think Phoebe is a lovely name and had no idea it was a 'Marmite' one. It's meaning (though I expect you already know):

Phoebe (/ˈfiːbi/ FEE-bee) is a female given name (Ancient Greek: Φοίβη), feminine form of the male name Phoebus (Φοίβος), an epithet of Apollo meaning "bright". ... This was also an epithet of her granddaughter Artemis.

There is also a Phoebe in the Bible who was entrusted with great responsibility in the early church.

I have a phoebe, I still love her name and the older children learnt how to spell it reasonably easily and quickly and she is almost there (just turned 4) we get a lot of lovely comments on her name as well.

Phoebe is a beautiful name - cute for a little girl and sophisticated for a grown woman. It sounds fresh, feminine and strong to me. Kids will make mean nicknames out of any name, and the spelling is perfectly standard- not sure why anyone would get it wrong.

It's gorgeous don't regret it.

There is no name that can't be made into something else to tease kids with. If indeed this Teflon name existed, kids would choose something else.

Honestly, it's such a lovely (and uncontroversial!) name. My dad's mum was called Phoebe and it would have been on our list for a girl.

Phoebe is lovely, yes the spelling is hard for the kid but as someone with a very bog standard name I constantly get misspellings anyway AND called a variation so at least Phoebe only has one option.

Phoebe is a beautiful name. There is nothing wrong with it at all.

Beefy is an odd concern. The two are nothing alike. If someone is running with 'Beefy' as a cruel nickname, then in all honesty they were going to find some kind of nasty name no matter what. It is not an obvious nickname at all.

I don't have a Phoebe, but I'm not keen on my daughter's name either. I thought about changing it loads, but felt bad about family having got used to it etc. My daughter's name is pronounced incorrectly about 90% of the time. My daughter is younger than yours, so couldn't say if it gets any easier, but you are definitely not alone in regretting her name. I have spoken to quite a few people who have said the same thing.

I know this might sound silly, but I did wonder a bit if I was projecting concerns over the pandemic on disliking her name. Not sure if it really applies if it's been 3 years of not liking it, but if it happened more recently, then could be worth considering?

I have never thought of Beefy as a nickname for Phoebe? If it helps, I think it's a nice name. The only Phoebe I know was the character off Friends. The spelling issues, you can even get with really common names, like Becky/Becci Amy/Aimee, but I get that it is annoying.

I have a 'marmite' name (or it seems to be on Mumsnet anyway). In fact I read someone say they would be 'livid' if their parents had given them my name. It's also hard to spell. And seriously, it's fine, I'm not livid or fuming about my name, and I'm sure your daughter won't be either (and isn't Phoebe quite a popular name at the moment anyway?).

I’m sorry you’re feeling bad about your daughters name. For what it’s worth I love the name Phoebe, it would have definitely been on my list if it hadn’t already been taken by a family member. It also has a beautiful meaning and I’m sure it suits your daughter very well. I’m not really sure how they got that nickname either from Phoebe? don’t be shy about correcting people if they use it in front of you either, I’d never use a nickname for someone’s child without hearing them use it first.

Ah thanks ladies feel a lot better now ❤️ I have no plans of changing her name ,like you say she’s 3 and even if I wanted to my hubby wouldn’t allow it he he.

I made the mistake and googled her name once and someone said don’t choose that name she’ll get called beefy ( if you change the letters around you’ll get beefy ). And someone said PeeBee. As I was already a bit uncertain about her name that didn’t help.

Thanks again for the support 😊

It’s a lovely name.

I love the name Phoebe.

It's not difficult to spell and why do you care if anyone else likes it?

Also I've never known anyone shorten or nickname Phoebe to Beefy, that is quite a stretch. The Phoebe's I know get called their full name or Feebs, like Phoebe from Friends.

My sister is Phoebe, she has never been called beefy! It's Pheebs to most or Fifi from me, and my dc have been trained to call her Aunty Fifi