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Phoenix

♂ Boy

Pronounced FEE-niks /ˈfiː.nɪks/High

Meaning: From the Greek 'phoinix', possibly meaning dark red or crimson, and used as the name of the legendary firebird that dies and is reborn from its own ashes — a symbol of resurrection and renewal.High

In 30 seconds: Phoenix is one of the most powerful mythological names — the undying firebird of legend that rises reborn from its own ashes. Bold, visionary, and full of symbolic weight, it is a name for the extraordinary.
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Origin HighGreek
MeaningFrom the Greek 'phoinix', possibly meaning dark red or crimson, and used as the name of the legendary firebird that dies and is reborn from its own ashes — a symbol of resurrection and renewal.
U.S. rank (2025)#329 ↘ Falling
2025 U.S. births1,027 boys (0.06% of U.S. boys)
Peak year2020
Total births (all-time)≈ 24,547

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 202019682025

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

History & Origin

The word phoinix in ancient Greek referred both to the legendary firebird and to the color dark red or crimson (also related to the Phoenicians, who traded in purple dye). The phoenix legend as a bird that burns and rises from its own ashes appears in Herodotus, Ovid's Metamorphoses, and later in early Christian literature, where it became a symbol of Christ's resurrection.

As a given name, Phoenix has been used sporadically in the English-speaking world but gained significant momentum in the 1990s and 2000s. Actor River Phoenix (1970–1993) brought the name cultural visibility. By the 2010s, Phoenix entered the US top 200 boys' names and is now unisex, used for both boys and girls. Its combination of mythological gravitas, striking sound, and resonant symbolism makes it one of the most compelling modern names.

Did you know? The phoenix myth appears independently in Egyptian, Greek, Roman, Chinese, and Arabian mythology — making it one of the most widespread mythological creatures in human history, suggesting a deep universal resonance with the idea of death and rebirth.
Overall data confidence 92%
Ovid. Metamorphoses, Book XV — Classical description of the phoenix mythBehind the Name: Phoenix — Etymology and modern naming history

Variations

PhenixPheonix

Nicknames

PheNix

Famous Bearers

  • ★River Phoenix (1970–1993)
    American actor known for Stand by Me and My Own Private Idaho, died age 23.

If you like Phoenix…

Orion— two-syllable Greek mythological name with celestial grandeur and the same bold, visionary character
Atlas— two-syllable Greek mythological name bearing the weight of legendary significance
Magnus— two-syllable classic name meaning 'great', sharing Phoenix's strong, powerful feel

Frequently Asked

What does the name Phoenix mean?

Phoenix means 'dark red' in Greek and is the name of the legendary firebird that dies and rises reborn from its ashes.

How do you pronounce Phoenix?

Phoenix is pronounced FEE-niks (/ˈfiː.nɪks/), two syllables with stress on the first.

Is Phoenix a boy or girl name?

Phoenix is used for both boys and girls, with a slight majority of male bearers in current US statistics.

How popular is Phoenix?

Phoenix entered the US top 200 boys' names in the 2010s and has been climbing for both genders as a bold mythological choice.