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Home › Baby Names Directory › Phineas

Phineas

♂ Boy

Pronounced FIN-ee-uhs /ˈfɪn.i.əs/Medium

Meaning: A biblical name with two proposed origins: Hebrew Pinehas, often glossed "mouth of brass" or "oracle," and Egyptian Pa-nehasi "the Nubian, the dark-skinned one."Medium

In 30 seconds: Phineas is a biblical name with two proposed origins, and scholars genuinely disagree about which is correct.
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Origin MediumBiblical, Hebrew, Egyptian
MeaningA biblical name with two proposed origins: Hebrew Pinehas, often glossed "mouth of brass" or "oracle," and Egyptian Pa-nehasi "the Nubian, the dark-skinned one."
U.S. rank (2025)#1616 ↘ Falling
2025 U.S. births105 boys (0.01% of U.S. boys)
Peak year2016
Total births (all-time)≈ 2,800

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 201618802025

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

The name has a disputed background. One line traces it to the Hebrew Pinehas, often glossed as 'mouth of brass' or 'oracle', while another points to the Egyptian Pa-nehasi, meaning roughly 'the Nubian' or 'the dark-skinned one'. Because both readings have support, Phineas is best described as a name carried through the Bible whose true root is uncertain.

It appears in forms like the Hebrew Pinchas and Pinhas and the older Finees and Phinees. American jazz pianist Phineas Newborn Jr., admired for his virtuosic playing, gave it a memorable mid-century bearer.

Did you know? Phineas is a spelling variant of Phinehas, so it keeps the same core meaning of 'Nubian' while changing the visual style.
Overall data confidence 78%
Behind the Name - Phineas — etymology, usage, pronunciation, and related formsU.S. Social Security Administration — 2024 popularity rank and count supplied in the batch input CSV

Variations

PhineesPinchasFineesPinhas

Nicknames

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Famous Bearers

  • ★Phineas Newborn Jr. (1931-1989)
    American jazz pianist admired for his virtuosic technique. He recorded extensively as a bandleader from the 1950s onward.

If you like Phineas…

Pinchas— The Hebrew form of the same biblical name.
Phinehas— a similarly popular pick
Tobias— a similarly popular pick
Oseias— a similarly popular pick
Miqueas— another biblical pick

Explore names like Phineas

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Phineas mean?

Phineas is usually explained as meaning 'Nubian' and is most often linked with Biblical tradition.

How do you pronounce Phineas?

It's commonly said FIN-ee-uhs /ˈfɪn.i.əs/.

Is Phineas a boy or girl name?

In this batch and in recent U.S. usage data, Phineas is used as a boy name.

How popular is Phineas?

In 2024, Phineas ranked #1538 in the U.S. for boys, with 114 births recorded.

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