Phoenix is a unisex name with a modern feel, drawn from real birth records. Below you'll find what Phoenix means and where it comes from, plus how many babies have been named Phoenix across the United States, UK, Ireland and New Zealand, how popular Phoenix has been over the decades, and the year it peaked.
Phoenix is a unisex name of Greek origin meaning “dark red, the mythical bird”. From the legendary bird that rises from ashes.
| Country | Births on record |
|---|---|
| United States since 1880 | 40,635 births |
| England & Wales since 1996 | 5,248 births |
| Scotland since 1974 | 231 births |
| Northern Ireland since 1997 | 65 births |
| Ireland since 1964 | 189 births |
| New Zealand top 100, since 1954 | 986 births |
Counts come from official national birth-registration statistics: U.S. Social Security Administration, England & Wales (Office for National Statistics), Scotland (National Records of Scotland), Northern Ireland (NISRA), Ireland (Central Statistics Office) and New Zealand (Dept. of Internal Affairs). Coverage spans differ, so totals aren't directly comparable across countries.
Babies named Phoenix per year, United States (1968 to 2025). United States peaked in 2020 (2,650/yr) · England & Wales peaked in 2020 (415/yr) · Scotland peaked in 2022 (28/yr) · Ireland peaked in 2021 (25/yr) · Northern Ireland peaked in 2017 (11/yr).
Phoenix has been a fairly common baby name in the United States. It was most common in 2020, when it ranked #253 nationally (given to 3,110 babies that year).
Phoenyx · Fenix · Pheonix · Phenix · Phenyx · Phynix · Phoenixx · Pheonyx
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