| Lotus | Phoenix | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | The lotus flower | Firebird reborn from flame |
| Origin | Greek | greek |
| Gender | Unisex | Unisex |
| Pronunciation | LOH-tus | FEE-niks |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| First appeared | 1896 | 1968 |
| Peak year | 2023 (140) | 2020 (1,534) |
| In 2025 | 110 | 1,027 |
| Trend | Rising | Rising |
Source: US Social Security Administration.
| Decade | Lotus | Phoenix |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 717 | 7,843 |
| 2010s | 834 | 10,623 |
| 2000s | 314 | 5,086 |
| 1990s | 56 | 972 |
| 1980s | 34 | 32 |
| 1970s | 46 | 10 |
| 1960s | 23 | 5 |
| 1950s | 77 | 0 |
| 1940s | 89 | 0 |
| 1930s | 161 | 0 |
| 1920s | 213 | 0 |
| 1910s | 160 | 0 |
| 1900s | 26 | 0 |
| 1890s | 16 | 0 |
Lotus names the sacred water flower, a symbol of purity and rebirth.
From Greek 'phoinix', the mythical bird that is consumed by fire and reborn from its own ashes. The fire link is through the rebirth-by-fire myth rather than a literal word for fire.
Phoenix is more popular than Lotus today: about 1,027 US babies were given the name Phoenix in 2025, compared with 110 named Lotus.
Lotus means The lotus flower (Greek origin), while Phoenix means Firebird reborn from flame (greek origin).
In US records, Lotus first appears in 1896 and Phoenix in 1968, so Lotus has the longer recorded history.