Find out how popular the first name Phoenix has been for the last 49 years (from 1975 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Phoenix by gender

Based on the last 49 years of data, Phoenix is more commonly used as a male name, with approximately 60% of people named Phoenix being male.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 1,243 male babies and 866 female babies born with the name Phoenix.

The history of the first name Phoenix

The name Phoenix originates from the ancient Greek word "phoinix," which means "crimson" or "purple-red." It is derived from the mythical bird, the phoenix, a legendary creature in Greek mythology that cyclically regenerates or is reborn from its own ashes. The phoenix symbolizes renewal, resurrection, and immortality.

The earliest known reference to the phoenix can be found in the ancient Greek and Roman texts, dating back to the 5th century BC. The Greek poet Hesiod mentioned the phoenix in his work "Works and Days," while the Roman scholar Pliny the Elder described the phoenix in detail in his "Natural History."

In ancient Egyptian mythology, the phoenix was associated with the sun god Ra and was known as the "bennu bird." It was believed to be a symbol of the sun's eternal cycle of death and rebirth. The ancient Egyptians depicted the bennu bird as a heron or a crane-like bird with colorful plumage.

The name Phoenix gained popularity in Europe during the Renaissance period, when interest in classical mythology and symbolism resurged. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Phoenix being used as a given name was in the 16th century.

Some notable historical figures named Phoenix include:

1. Phoenix of Colophon (c. 320-250 BC), a Greek poet and grammarian from ancient Colophon.
2. Phoenix of Byzantium (c. 7th century AD), a Byzantine scholar and grammarian.
3. Phoenix Murati (c. 1521-1593), an Albanian-born Ottoman poet and writer.
4. Phoenix Phetxarating (1633-1703), a Thai prince and writer during the Ayutthaya Kingdom.
5. Phoenix Remillard (1784-1847), a Canadian fur trader and explorer in the early 19th century.

Throughout history, the name Phoenix has been associated with symbolism of rebirth, resilience, and overcoming adversity, making it a popular choice for parents seeking a meaningful and symbolic name for their child.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Phoenix was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Phoenix, please contact us.

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