[name_f]Phoebe[/name_f] is one of our top contenders for #3. My husband adores it, and I’m a big fan too, but I’m a little skeptical for 3 main reasons:
Familiarity? I know it’s a name that has been around for a long time, and it’s not super out there, but where I live I worry what people may think.
Spelling? Similarly, because people around here may not be as familiar with the name, I worry that she would constantly have to spell it out for people.
Association? I’m sure “Friends” is one of the first things some people think of when they hear the name…
What are your thoughts on [name_f]Phoebe[/name_f]? [name_f]TIA[/name_f]!
I really like [name_f]Phoebe[/name_f]. It’s a name that makes me immediately happy! But it’s not too light either. Where I’m from ([name_m]Oz[/name_m]), most people know the name and it was popular long before “Friends” so it doesn’t have that dippy association though certainly the same sunny quality. Spelling isn’t the easiest but I’m not sure how much spelling out people do these days when so much online and typed etc.
I love [name_f]Phoebe[/name_f]! It’s a gorgeous name. Definitely not too popular, but sweetly familiar. I don’t think it’s too hard to spell. And I don’t think the Friends association is as big as you’d think… my sister in laws name is [name_f]Phoebe[/name_f], and I never thought of Friends when I heard it, even though I’m a huge fan of the show. I think it’s a really good name!
I like [name_f]Phoebe[/name_f], it’s on the ‘names I like but not enough to use list’ just because it’s not quite my style, but it’s a very nice name.
I think that it’s well known enough that though there may be some spelling issues (I’m beginning to think there will be with 85% of names) I don’t think it’s outlandish and I doubt others would either. I don’t automatically think of Friends because I’ve met several Phoebes over the years - I think the link with Friends might actually help you with your other two concerns! Also Friends has been over for ages, so I think people will know the name because of the show but I don’t think many people would assume that’s why you chose the name.
I love [name_f]Phoebe[/name_f]. It’s a very jaunty, happy, spunky name. I associate it more with [name_f]Phoebe[/name_f] Caulfield than with [name_f]Phoebe[/name_f] Buffay, but then I don’t think the latter is a bad association.
I love [name_f]Phoebe[/name_f] too-- it’s similar to [name_f]Lucy[/name_f] but less common-- a cheery classic. No one can spell anything these days and I think only people of a certain age and time know “Friends” so I wouldn’t let either of these stand in your way. I love it paired with a longer classic name-- [name_f]Phoebe[/name_f] [name_f]Margaret[/name_f], [name_f]Phoebe[/name_f] [name_f]Susannah[/name_f], [name_f]Phoebe[/name_f] [name_f]Juliet[/name_f], [name_f]Phoebe[/name_f] [name_f]Caroline[/name_f], etc.
I think #3 will help you with #1. People will know the name from Friends and, while also associating it with the show, will be familiar with it. #2 might be a bit trickier, it’s certainly not a name whose sound matches its spelling, but I think people will learn quickly.
There isn’t an “obvious” spelling that people who are unfamiliar with the name would choose, instead they would definitely ask how you spell it, which works in your favour.
It’s popular enough that people are familiar with it, but you don’t hear it all the time. As for the spelling, some people probably won’t get it right, but that happens with every name. The good thing is [name_f]Phoebe[/name_f] basically has one spelling so there aren’t a million other variations to confuse it with. And I don’t see anything wrong with the Friends association - it’s a great show, even if that character isn’t your favorite…
I love it. One of my all time favorites. She will likely have to spell out her name often, but I don’t think that’s a huge deal. People should remember it after its explained once.
[name_f]Phoebe[/name_f] is great! Admittedly, it’s never really made it onto my list in any form, but that’s not for any particular reason, it just never appealed to me from a functional standpoint. But I do enjoy seeing it being used and adored by others, because I appreciate the quality of the name in general.
I think it’s very familiar by this point. I know a [name_f]Phoebe[/name_f] in college, and she’s a lovely person. It’s the sort of name that people don’t meet on the streets very often, but no one would be shocked to meet one. From my perspective, that puts [name_f]Phoebe[/name_f] in a good place - recognized but not overused.
The original and classic spelling of [name_f]Phoebe[/name_f] should not be messed with. While the spelling may not make much sense phonetically to some, it needs to stay the way it is to avoid any more confusion than necessary.
Yes, i do think of Friends, but I am a huge fan of the show, so I’m not objective on that front. That said, the character is a lighthearted and hilarious one, and definitely not a negative association. I don’t have any other associations with [name_f]Phoebe[/name_f] besides the friend I have with the name.
Give [name_f]Phoebe[/name_f] a shot, she’s worth it!
I loooooove [name_f]Phoebe[/name_f]! I have a close friend of the same name, otherwise it would be on my list. The meaning is also GORGEOUS, if you’re into name meanings I think there’s enough familiarity these days to avoid too many issues with spelling, although even ‘household’ names require spelling out now that there are so many variations!
I love [name_f]Phoebe[/name_f]! I think it’s common enough that it’s known, but not enough that you’re bound to know alot of them (where I’m from, anyway). I think you might get “Friends” comments from your demographic, but not from hers, and I don’t necessarily think it’s a bad thing.
I love it. Agree that it’s sweet, light, and spunky.
I don’t think the spelling will be any more or less of an issue than any other name. There are VERY few names that I think avoid the spelling questions altogether.
I think [name_f]Phoebe[/name_f] from friends is a good association, but will also become less relevant with time. I also personally think of [name_f]Phoebe[/name_f] from the 90s cartoon Hey! [name_m]Arnold[/name_m], and yes, from Catcher in the [name_m]Rye[/name_m] as well. I have known a few Phoebes in my life, each of different eras: one of my mom’s acquaintances, an acquaintance in college, and a now 7 year old I used to babysit. One of my husband’s co-workers just used the name for her baby 3 months ago, and I was really pleasantly surprised they named her [name_f]Phoebe[/name_f].
I think it’s super charming and you should definitely consider it going forward!
I love [name_f]Phoebe[/name_f], too! I also see it as a fresh, spunky and happy name.
As PPs have said, there are little to none names that have no issues with spelling. The truly classic ones and sometimes, even those have issues with spelling. [name_f]Phoebe[/name_f] is a legitimate spelling and won’t have as much problem as other modern names have.
The association with [name_f]Phoebe[/name_f] Buffay is there for a lot of people, but I don’t find it too strong not to use it. And she is a great association in my opinion! She has a great, funny and sunny personality.
I think [name_f]Phoebe[/name_f] is usable, and truly beautiful. Good luck!
I love [name_f]Phoebe[/name_f]. It’s both pretty and interesting, easy to say, but with a unique spelling. It’s the name of a bird, as well as it’s call. I like it for multiple reasons.
It makes me think first of All My Children, which dates me. Second, of [name_m]Salinger[/name_m]. Third, of a pretty girl I once knew briefly. Fourth, of a creative student I once had in class. Fifth, Friends.
So it has many associations, is definitely not an out there name like [name_f]Tamarind[/name_f] or [name_f]Boudicca[/name_f], and is spelled how it is spelled. I would only worry about spelling if it were something like a Celtic name like [name_m]Laoghaire[/name_m] (which I probably misspelled!).
I like the name [name_f]Phoebe[/name_f] well enough and love it with your boys’ names! I’ll admit, my first association is Friends…and I’ve only watched a few minutes of one episode! Sort of a bad namesake, in some ways. The only good thing from that association is that it does make the name more familiar than not. Spelling…I could see that as an issue. I spelled it wrong with I typed it in this response and I always have to go “foe-be” when spelling it, to make sure I have a shot at getting all of the letters in there. Not the biggest deal in the world, but something to keep in mind.
I think [name_f]Phoebe[/name_f] is beautiful! Your daughter will make it her own, with a meaningful association and that’s what matters. The name flows with such grace that it makes me smile. I hope you use it!
I think there’s enough familiarity these days to avoid too many issues with spelling, although even ‘household’ names require spelling out now that there are so many variations!