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Cybele

♀ Girl

How to Pronounce Cybele

Pronounced SIB-uh-lee /ˈsɪb.ə.li/Medium

Meaning: Cybele is the name of an ancient mother goddess, honored in Phrygia and later across the Greek and Roman worlds as the great mother of the gods. Her name is thought to be Phrygian in origin, possibly linked to mountains or to a sacred place; scholars do not agree on a single literal meaning, but her role as a nurturing mother figure is well attested.Low

In 30 seconds: Cybele is the name of the Phrygian and Greek great mother goddess, revered as the mother of the gods. It saw rare use as a given name (said SIB-uh-lee).

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Origin MediumPhrygian, Greek

MeaningCybele is the name of an ancient mother goddess, honored in Phrygia and later across the Greek and Roman worlds as the great mother of the gods. Her name is thought to be Phrygian in origin, possibly linked to mountains or to a sacred place; scholars do not agree on a single literal meaning, but her role as a nurturing mother figure is well attested.

U.S. rank (2023)#13814 ↘ Falling

2023 U.S. births6 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)

Peak year1966

Total births (all-time)≈ 156

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

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

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Cybele comes from the ancient goddess of the same name, a great mother figure first honored in Phrygia, in what is now Turkey, and later embraced throughout the Greek and Roman worlds. As a personal name in the United States it has always been uncommon, chosen mainly by parents drawn to classical mythology and to its soft, three-syllable sound. Its origin is Phrygian and its exact literal meaning is debated, but its association with a nurturing mother of the gods is clear and enduring.

Cybele was rare across its run, given to only about twenty girls a year even at its high around 1966, and it never entered common use. A girl named Cybele then would be in her later fifties today.

Did you know? Cybele was worshipped for centuries as a protecting mother of the gods, her rites carried from Phrygia into Greece and Rome, which gives the modern name a deep mythological resonance.

Overall data confidence 55%

References - Cybele — Phrygian and Greek mother goddess; origin Phrygian, literal meaning debated

Variations

CybelleSibylCybel

Nicknames

CyBeeBella

Famous Bearers

★Cybele (ancient)
the Phrygian and Greek mother goddess honored as the great mother of the gods

If you like Cybele…

Sibyl— shares the classical sound and Sib- opening

Cybil— a like spelling of similar sound

Adele— another soft, classical-feeling girl name

Isabelle— shares the gentle -belle ending sound

Explore names like Cybele

By themerare greek mythology classical

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Cybele mean?

It is the name of the Phrygian and Greek mother goddess, revered as the great mother of the gods; its exact literal meaning is debated.

How do you pronounce Cybele?

It is said SIB-uh-lee /ˈsɪb.ə.li/, three syllables with the stress on the first.

Is Cybele a boy or girl name?

Cybele is used as a girl's name.

How popular is Cybele?

It has always been rare in the United States, given to only about twenty girls a year at its high in the mid nineteen-sixties.