Phoenix

Phoenix - A very unique male name

Phoenix appeared on the charts for the first time in 1992 on position #2562. In this article you'll learn the history of this name, statistics, see famous people named Phoenix and more.
Are you having a baby or looking to learn more about the name Phoenix? Our experts and editorial staff have gathered trends and insights for 30,000+ baby names over the last 100 years -- And on this page you will learn everything you ever wanted to know about the name Phoenix. The baby boy name Phoenix was given to 1,005 baby boys in 2025, ranking #329 on the national boy baby name top chart.


With that position 1 in 1,459 baby boys were given this name - making this a very unique male name according to our Popularity Score algorithm. Phoenix peaked in popularity 6 years ago in 2020 on position 236.

Famous with this name

How would you rate Phoenix, 1-5?

Phoenix is currently topping the charts in...

Did you know that popularity can vary a lot between states? Phoenix is currently topping the baby name charts in Mississippi at position #178 - and is the least popular in New Jersey at position #516.

Why care about state specific baby name charts? It could be that a name that is very popular on the national overall charts is less (or even more) popular where you live. So make sure you check out the state specific charts below and find out how popular or unique Phoenix is where you live.

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Phoenix origin and meaning

Greek, via the mythological bird and the city name

'Phoenix' — the mythical bird; the Greek word also meant crimson or Phoenician

Phoenix is the name of the bird in Greek myth that burns and rises from its own ashes, and separately of the Arizona capital. As a given name it appears in the US data from 1992 and grew with other bold word and place names. It peaked in 2020 and has fallen since.

Attested etymology

Phoenix is a 7 letter name with 2 syllables.

To see famous people named Phoenix, pop culture references for the name Phoenix and nicknames & variations - visit Nameberry or Wikipedia.

Similar to Phoenix

We've found the following names that sound similar to Phoenix, sorted by popularity.

Phineas / Pinchas / Pinchus / Phong / Pheng / Pinchos / Pinches / Peng / Pink / Phuong /

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Name statistics

Most parents-to-be know if they want a popular or unique name, and with these charts and data tables you can easily get a better understanding of how popular or unique this name is.

With a quick glance you can easily tell if this name is increasing or declining in popularity - But note that its current popularity can actually differ a lot from state to state.

Chart position per year (visualized)

Chart position per state (visualized)

Chart position per year (table view)

Chart position per state (table view)

Even more about Phoenix

These are some of the common questions you may want to have answered to know if this is the perfect name for your baby.

Is Phoenix a common or unique name?

By analyzing the number of births and frequency of this name we've determined that it's currently a very unique male name.

What is the number of syllables for the name Phoenix?

2 syllables. Why is this important? One of the things that makes a baby name sound good and have a nice rythm is the number of syllables - and especially the number of syllables along with the syllable count for your last name. A simple rule is to avoid having the same number of syllables in your first, middle and last name.

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Pronunciation

FEE-niks · /ˈfiːnɪks/

Around the world

No traditional forms in other languages — this name was created in America in our own time.

Spellings and nicknames

• Phenix — Older simplified spelling

Famous bearers

• Phoenix Wright — Defence attorney in the Ace Attorney video games (Fictional, 2001) Fictional

Style

MythologicalPlace nameWord name

Why parents choose it

Phoenix gives boys a dramatic, resilient image and an unmistakable sound, with the rebirth story built into the name.

Worth knowing

• Strongly associated with the Arizona city as well as the myth — expect both readings.
• Famous Phoenixes such as River and Joaquin carry it as a surname, not a given name.