Febe
A feminine name of Greek origin meaning "radiant" or "shining".
Name Census estimates that about 272 living Americans carry the first name Febe. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Febe today is around 19 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Febe births was 2015 (20 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Febe. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
People living today
272
~ 1 in 1,260,126 Americans
Peak year
2015
20 babies that year
Average age
19
years old
2024 SSA rank
#16,021
Tracked since 1926
Popularity
Febe: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Febe from the 1920s through to the 2020s, spanning 6 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2010s, with 109 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 2010s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Febe by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Febe during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Febes live
Origin
Meaning and history of Febe
The name Febe originates from the ancient Greek language and culture, dating back to the 1st century AD. It is derived from the Greek word "Phoibe," which means "brilliant" or "radiant." This name was particularly popular in the early Christian era and has been associated with various historical figures and religious contexts.
In the New Testament, the name Febe is mentioned in the book of Romans, chapter 16, verse 1. The apostle Paul refers to a woman named Febe, whom he describes as a "servant" or "deaconess" of the church in Cenchreae. This reference suggests that Febe was an influential figure in the early Christian community, and her name held significance within the religious context.
One of the earliest recorded examples of the name Febe can be found in the writings of the ancient Greek historian, Plutarch. He mentions a woman named Febe who lived in the 1st century AD and was known for her wisdom and virtue.
Throughout history, several notable women have borne the name Febe:
1. Febe Arteaga Quintero (1925-2019), a Mexican artist and activist known for her contributions to the feminist movement in Mexico.
2. Febe Velasquez (1800s), a Puerto Rican revolutionary who fought against Spanish colonial rule in the 19th century.
3. Febe Kemeny (1913-1993), a Hungarian-American mathematician and computer scientist who made significant contributions to the field of numerical analysis.
4. Febe Calderón (1977-), a Spanish actress and television presenter known for her work in various Spanish-language productions.
5. Febe Armanios (1976-), an American academic and author who specializes in the study of Coptic Christianity and gender studies.
While the name Febe has its roots in Greek antiquity, it has been embraced and adapted by various cultures and communities throughout history. Its meaning, "brilliant" or "radiant," has likely contributed to its enduring appeal and use across different eras and regions.
People
Febe + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Febe as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with F
Other first names starting with F with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Febe: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Febe?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 272 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Febe going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 1,260,126 US residents.
Is Febe a common name?
We classify Febe as "Very Rare". It ranks above 78.1% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 282 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Febe most popular?
The single biggest year for Febe was 2015, when 20 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Febe is about 19 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Febe a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Febe in the SSA data are female. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.