Phoenix
Girl name · #534 in 2025 · Rare
How old is the name Phoenix? In official American birth records, Phoenix has been tracked continuously since 1970, giving it 55 years of documented American history.
Phoenix ranks #534 among American girls' names as of 2025, with 567 newborns given the name that year. A decade ago it stood at #453, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 3,175 girls born in 2025 was named Phoenix.
Babies named Phoenix per year. Source: Official national birth records.
The 55-year story
Phoenix first appears in the Social Security records in 1970, when 5 girls received the name. Its peak came in 2020, when 1,116 girls were named Phoenix — good for #285 that year. Today's parents encounter it on its way down the popularity curve, which for many parents is exactly the appeal. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Phoenix against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Phoenix in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Phoenix is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "rare". A high score means genuine rarity — your Phoenix will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Phoenix is most common
Geography matters for names, and Phoenix is no exception. Adjusted for how many girls are born in each state, Phoenix is most common in OK (1.1 per 1,000), GA (0.8 per 1,000), MD (0.8 per 1,000), LA (0.7 per 1,000), NC (0.7 per 1,000) — against a national average of about 0.4 per 1,000 girls. These are per-capita rates, so they show where Phoenix is a genuine regional favorite rather than just where the most babies are born.
Names like Phoenix
Statistically, parents drawn to Phoenix tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Beatrix, Promise, Elliott, Avianna, and Paislee.
BeatrixPromiseElliottAviannaPaisleeLennoxCharliEmelia
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Phoenix | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 567 | #533 |
| 2024 | 746 | #419 |
| 2023 | 871 | #349 |
| 2022 | 1,013 | #316 |
| 2021 | 1,038 | #310 |
| 2020 | 1,116 | #285 |
| 2019 | 1,027 | #313 |
| 2018 | 908 | #350 |
| 2017 | 861 | #362 |
| 2016 | 730 | #440 |
| 2015 | 700 | #453 |
| 2014 | 637 | #491 |
| 2013 | 620 | #486 |
| 2012 | 514 | #571 |
| 2011 | 444 | #644 |
| 2010 | 436 | #665 |
| 2009 | 403 | #718 |
| 2008 | 425 | #705 |
| 2007 | 410 | #713 |
| 2006 | 336 | #812 |
| 2005 | 287 | #882 |
| 2004 | 280 | #878 |
| 2003 | 237 | #978 |
| 2002 | 150 | #1303 |
| 2001 | 155 | #1266 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Phoenix?
In official American birth records, the name Phoenix first appeared in 1970 (over 55 years ago), when 5 newborn girls received the name. It has been tracked in modern national records for 55 years.
Is Phoenix a popular girl name?
Phoenix ranked #534 among girls in 2025 with 567 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #453.
When was the name Phoenix most popular?
Phoenix peaked in 2020, when 1,116 American girls received the name (ranked #285 that year). Since 2020 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Phoenix?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 3,175 newborn American girls was named Phoenix. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "rare".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.