Phoibe or Foivi

Phoebe or Foivi is a Greek female name whose roots are found in the ancient Greek mythology and poetry.

Phoebe is the latinized form of the Greek name Φοιβη (Phoibe), which means “bright, pure” and is the female respective of name  Φοιβος (phoibos).

In Greek mythology Phoibe was a Titan associated with the moon. This was also an epithet of her granddaughter, the moon-goddess Artemis, who was the sister of Apollo. Phoebos was another name for Apollo.

The spelling Foivi is closer to the Greek sound of the name.

female greek name phoebe

Sound of name Phoebe: Feé-vee

Male Version of name Phoebe: Phoebos or Phoibos

Nameday of Phoebe: September 3rd

Origin of name Phoebe – Osia Phoebe (Blessed Phoebe)

There is not much about Phoebe in the Orthodox Tradition. We do know that there was a woman who served as a deaconess and is referred to in the Scripts and Letters of Apostle Paul.

In ancient Greek mythology Phoebe was  one of the Titans, the sons and daughters of Uranus and Gaia. Phoebe was traditionally associated with the moon and her consort was her brother Coeus, with whom she had two daughters: Leto (mother of Artemis and Apollo) and Asteria, a star-goddess mother of Hecate.

Nicknames deriving from name Phoebe

Phoebe does not have any nicknames or diminutives. However, due to the meaning of the name you might meet a woman named Clairi, whose original name is Phoebe. Clairi (Claire) means bright, same as Phoebe.

The Names’ Fairy reveals the meaning of name Phoebe

Phoebe is a delicate and beautiful woman, who likes having many people around her. She can be quite naive at times, but she is very thoughtful and passionate.

The name appears in Paul’s epistle to the Romans in the New Testament, where it belongs to a female minister in the church at Cenchreae. In England, it began to be used as a given name after the Protestant Reformation.

Phoebe is also the name of one of Saturn’s moons.

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Greek Names