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Phoenix

♀ Girl

Pronounced FEE-niks /ˈfiː.nɪks/High

Meaning: The mythical bird of rebirth; from Greek phoinix, also meaning dark red or crimson, and associated with the PhoeniciansHigh

In 30 seconds: A bold Greek mythology name for the immortal bird that rises from its own ashes — a potent symbol of renewal. It also lends its name to the capital of Arizona.

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Origin HighGreek

MeaningThe mythical bird of rebirth; from Greek phoinix, also meaning dark red or crimson, and associated with the Phoenicians

U.S. rank (2025)#534 ↘ Falling

2025 U.S. births567 girls (0.03% of U.S. girls)

Peak year2020

Total births (all-time)≈ 16,047

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

The phoenix appears in ancient Egyptian mythology as the Bennu bird, but the Greek name phoinix gave the legend its Western form. Herodotus described it as an Arabian bird that lives 500 years and burns itself on a nest of spices before rising reborn from the ashes. The story passed into Roman, then Christian symbolic tradition as a metaphor for resurrection.

Phoenix entered American baby-name charts in the late 20th century, initially a curiosity. It climbed notably for both sexes in the 2010s — riding the wave of mythology names like Apollo and Artemis — and reached the girls' top 500 by 2024. The city of Phoenix, Arizona, was itself named for the legend of rebirth on the site of a former civilization.

Did you know? The Greek word phoinix carried three meanings at once: the mythical bird, the color dark red or crimson, and a native of Phoenicia — all likely connected through the idea of a deep sunset color.

Overall data confidence 91%

Behind the Name — Phoenix — etymology and mythologyU.S. Social Security Administration — popularity data

Variations

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Nicknames

PheeNix

Famous Bearers

★Phoenix (mythological)
The immortal bird of ancient Greek and Egyptian mythology, said to live for centuries before burning itself and rising reborn from the ashes.

If you like Phoenix…

Artemis— bold Greek mythology name making a strong comeback for girls

Aurora— luminous mythology-adjacent name with a similarly epic feel

Luna— celestial mythology name that soared to the girls' top 10

Nova— astronomical name sharing Phoenix's sense of cosmic renewal

Ember— fire-adjacent name with the same warm, intense energy

Explore names like Phoenix

By themeunisex nature place-name mythology fire rebirth

By meaningBird

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Phoenix mean?

Phoenix comes from Greek phoinix, referring to the mythical bird that burns and rises reborn from its ashes — a symbol of renewal and immortality.

How do you pronounce Phoenix?

It's said FEE-niks — two syllables, stress on the first.

Is Phoenix a boy or girl name?

Phoenix is unisex and used for both sexes in the U.S.

How popular is Phoenix?

Phoenix ranked #421 for U.S. girls in 2024.