I’ve had Belphoebe stuck on my mind for days now, but I can’t really decide what to do with it. It’s just like my beloved [name_f]Phoebe[/name_f], only better - I would use [name_f]Phoebe[/name_f] in a heartbeat but it’s just so short.
That being said, I’ve been through hundreds of Nameberry threads mentioning Belphoebe, and loads of people say it’s weird, pretentious or over the top.
So therefore, I pose my question: is Belphoebe too much or not? We’re talking middle names here, as my FN list is already long enough. I love me some offbeat names, but there is no way I’m naming my child anything laughable.
I do prefer just [name_f]Phoebe[/name_f] myself, but I think Belphoebe is great – brilliantly offbeat and quirky, rather romantic and with this great whimsical yet vintage type thing going on. I might think it’s a bit much as a first name (around here, [name_f]Phoebe[/name_f] is uncommon enough and would get raised eyebrows, so…) but I think it would make for a brilliant middle. Belphoebe fits right in with your style – I’d love to see it used.
Belphoebe seems made up to me, and looks rather forced. I do prefer just [name_f]Phoebe[/name_f]. That said, it does sound nice, so how about using two middle names, [name_f]Belle[/name_f] and [name_f]Phoebe[/name_f]?
To me, Belphoebe seems well balanced between very unusual and totally usable. It’s composed of familiar elements - [name_f]Phoebe[/name_f] and [name_f]Belle[/name_f] - it’s easy to say and kind of rolls of the tongue - it has a literary history - while at the same time it’s also very unfamiliar, bold and distinctive. I don’t think it’s silly and maybe it’s because I’ve read the Faerie Queene, but it doesn’t strike me as made up. I think it’s ususable
My sister’s name is actually [name_f]Phoebe[/name_f]-[name_u]Bell[/name_u], and I think something like that would work better and be a little more accessible as a name, while still being spunky and out there. Maybe consider:
[name_f]Phoebe[/name_f]-[name_u]Bell[/name_u]
[name_f]Phoebe[/name_f]-[name_f]Belle[/name_f]
[name_u]Bellamy[/name_u] (decided to throw this one in since it has kind of a similar sound)
No I don’t think it’s laughable or too over the top. Though that’s coming from me, who loves an offbeat name, and I’m sure there are those with plainer taste who may find it odd. But I think [name_f]Phoebe[/name_f] itself is familiar and approachable enough to anchor it.
What I’m not the biggest fan of is the sound. I actually like the look of Belphoebe, but I find it clunky to say. I feel like I’m saying two separate names; I just don’t get a nice flow between them.
I also think it’s over the top, I just prefer [name_f]Phoebe[/name_f]. Your son has a short middle so I wouldn’t think much of a daughter with a short middle alongside, even with big sis having lengthier middles.
I’m a huge, huge, huge fan of [name_f]Phoebe[/name_f] and love it with all my heart. In comparison to [name_f]Cornelia[/name_f] and [name_m]Endymion[/name_m], I must say that it feels a little bit on the safe side, but that’s relative because what matters are your feelings and which of the two makes your heart sing and your face smile more.
That being said, my husband is also crushing hard on Belphoebe right now and it has a nymph-like quality to it, like you half-expect her to come out of fairyland from “A Midsummer [name_m]Night[/name_m]'s [name_u]Dream[/name_u]”. I think you shouldn’t be afraid of using Belphoebe as you’ve already shown your naming bravery with your older kids’ names, and you, as well as your daughter will always be able to fall back onto [name_f]Phoebe[/name_f] as a nickname or even [name_f]Bel[/name_f], if that suits you. [name_f]Bel[/name_f] especially would help her fit in more in terms of call-name, in a world now full of [name_f]Isabel[/name_f], [name_f]Isabelle[/name_f], [name_f]Isabella[/name_f]'s and princess Belles. Best of luck with naming your little one! Can’t wait to see which one you choose!
Sorry it’s a hard no from me. At first glance I was pronouncing it “Belp-ho-eb” until it clicked in my brain that [name_f]Phoebe[/name_f] is the suffix. [name_f]Phoebe[/name_f] is so pretty on its own and doesn’t need to be elongated in my opinion.
I find it unusual and maybe a little over the top, but I’ve also never seen it used before and would love to. As a middle name it would work very well with some of the other names you’ve been considering and with your children’s names as well. I would definitely consider it if you keep thinking about it.
I love Belpheobe. It’s uncommon obviously and most people will have never even heard of it, but everyone has heard of [name_f]Belle[/name_f] and everyone has heard of [name_f]Phoebe[/name_f] so it still seems familiar. I think it’s clunky but in the beat possible way and I do find it sophisticated. I don’t think it’s too much as a first name and I DEFINITELY don’t think it’s too much for a middle.
I don’t think it’s too much at all, then again I’m in the “use what you love” camp. Plus it combines elements of familiar names ([name_f]Isabel[/name_f]/[name_f]Annabel[/name_f] etc and [name_f]Phoebe[/name_f]) so doesn’t seem that outrageous when you think about it.
A perfectly usable choice, in my opinion! I would be fine with it as a first, but I think you could take quite the creative license with middle names, so that’s a double yes from me! I love the association with fairyland via [name_u]Spenser[/name_u]'s The Faerie Queene, and the fact that it combines [name_f]Phoebe[/name_f], which everyone has heard, with the [name_f]Bel[/name_f]- element that is common in everything from [name_f]Isabella[/name_f] to Belladonna makes it familiar enough to be wearable. I would love to see this join your exquisitely named sibset!