What does Phoebe mean?
From the Greek Phoibe, “bright” or “radiant,” a name of the moon in myth.
What does Evangeline mean?
Evangeline means “bearer of good news” in Greek.
Phoebe vs Evangeline
Which is more popular?
Evangeline is more popular than Phoebe today: about 1,998 US babies were given the name Evangeline in 2025, compared with 1,885 named Phoebe.
| Phoebe | Evangeline | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Bright, radiant | Bearer of good news |
| Origin | Greek | Greek |
| Gender | Girl | Girl |
| Pronunciation | FEE-bee | ee-VAN-juh-leen |
| Syllables | 2 | 4 |
| First appeared | 1880 | 1881 |
| Peak year | 2025 (1,885) | 2025 (1,998) |
| In 2025 | 1,885 | 1,998 |
| Trend | Near its peak | Near its peak |
Popularity over time, 1880–2025
Phoebe
Evangeline
Source: US Social Security Administration.
Births by decade
| Decade | Phoebe | Evangeline |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 8,928 | 8,812 |
| 2010s | 10,645 | 11,610 |
| 2000s | 8,085 | 3,323 |
| 1990s | 3,288 | 716 |
| 1980s | 1,123 | 562 |
| 1970s | 1,134 | 821 |
| 1960s | 1,064 | 1,182 |
| 1950s | 1,092 | 1,411 |
| 1940s | 1,230 | 1,404 |
| 1930s | 1,404 | 1,973 |
| 1920s | 1,851 | 2,444 |
| 1910s | 1,601 | 1,552 |
| 1900s | 719 | 553 |
| 1890s | 848 | 300 |
| 1880s | 646 | 108 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Phoebe or Evangeline more popular?
Evangeline is more popular than Phoebe today: about 1,998 US babies were given the name Evangeline in 2025, compared with 1,885 named Phoebe.
What is the difference between Phoebe and Evangeline?
Phoebe means Bright, radiant (Greek origin), while Evangeline means Bearer of good news (Greek origin).
Which name is older, Phoebe or Evangeline?
In US records, Phoebe first appears in 1880 and Evangeline in 1881, so Phoebe has the longer recorded history.