Phoenix
Phoenix is a modern given name derived from the name for a mythological bird from Greek myth that has become a symbol of renewal, regeneration and immortality. It is a name in use for both boys and girls.
Meaning & Origin of Phoenix
What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.
Phoenix is a modern given name derived from the name for a mythological bird from Greek myth that has become a symbol of renewal, regeneration and immortality. It is a name in use for both boys and girls.
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →
The Story of Phoenix
As a girl name
Phoenix first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a girl name in 1970, with 5 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 2020, when 1,114 Phoenixs were born — ranking #285 that year. As of 2026, Phoenix ranks #448 for girls with 686 births, falling sharply (-18%). In total, more than 17K Phoenixs have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1970s through the 2020s.
As a boy name
Phoenix first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a boy name in 1968, with 5 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 2020, when 1,534 Phoenixs were born — ranking #236 that year. As of 2026, Phoenix ranks #293 for boys with 1,143 births, gradually falling (-15%). In total, more than 26K Phoenixs have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1960s through the 2020s.
Popularity Over Time
Popularity by State
Names that sound like Phoenix
Phonetically similar names — useful when Phoenix is the vibe but a different syllable count or letter feel might suit better. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.
Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.
Frequently Asked Questions about Phoenix
What does the name Phoenix mean?
How popular is Phoenix in 2026?
When was Phoenix most popular?
In which U.S. states is Phoenix most popular?
Is Phoenix a unisex name?
What names go well with Phoenix?
About the name Phoenix
Phoenix is a unisex baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1968 and has accumulated 26K births in the dataset. Phoenix's peak popularity came in 2020 when it ranked #236. Use the chart and map above to compare Phoenix's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.
Continue exploring
- Top names of 2020 →
- Names of the 2020s →
- Names starting with "P" →
- Browse all boy names →
- Top names of 2026 →
- Browse unisex names →
Data sources
- Birth statistics (counts, ranks, years 1880–2026) — U.S. Social Security Administration . Predictions for years not yet released by SSA are computed by Peek a Name from historical trends; we update with official data as soon as it ships.
- Etymology, cultural origins, and related forms — Behind the Name (used under their public API terms).
- Meaning prose and editorial summary — Wikipedia article extracts, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 .
- Predicted nationality distribution — Nationalize.io .
- Phonetically similar names — Datamuse .
Peek a Name aggregates and presents the above data for informational purposes. Statistical predictions and external attributions are clearly labelled where shown; we make no guarantee of accuracy beyond what each source provides.