Phoenix
Boy name · #329 in 2025 · Uniqueness 61/100
Phoenix is currently the #329 boy name in the United States — 1,027 babies received it in 2025. A decade ago it stood at #307, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 1,753 boys born in 2025 was named Phoenix.
The 57-year story
Phoenix first appears in the Social Security records in 1968, when 5 boys received the name. Its peak came in 2020, when 1,534 boys were named Phoenix — good for #236 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.
Babies named Phoenix per year, 1880–2025. Source: SSA.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Phoenix against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Phoenix in class?
Phoenix scores 61 out of 100 on our uniqueness scale, which blends current rarity with five-year momentum — putting it in the "distinctive" band. That middle band is the sweet spot many parents hunt for: recognizable without being everywhere.
Where Phoenix is most common
Geography matters for names, and Phoenix is no exception. In 2025 the states with the most Phoenixs were TX (111), CA (86), OH (51), FL (50), NY (44). Raw counts naturally favor populous states, but the spread still hints at where the name is part of the local naming culture.
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 Hendrix, Paxton, Prince, Atticus, and Lennox.
HendrixPaxtonPrinceAtticusLennoxLawsonGideonFinley
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Phoenix | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1,027 | #329 |
| 2024 | 1,235 | #275 |
| 2023 | 1,259 | #269 |
| 2022 | 1,342 | #260 |
| 2021 | 1,446 | #247 |
| 2020 | 1,534 | #236 |
| 2019 | 1,422 | #256 |
| 2018 | 1,456 | #252 |
| 2017 | 1,349 | #267 |
| 2016 | 1,237 | #292 |
| 2015 | 1,163 | #307 |
| 2014 | 914 | #353 |
| 2013 | 790 | #380 |
| 2012 | 795 | #380 |
| 2011 | 731 | #388 |
| 2010 | 766 | #375 |
| 2009 | 826 | #367 |
| 2008 | 744 | #397 |
| 2007 | 695 | #418 |
| 2006 | 675 | #422 |
| 2005 | 527 | #476 |
| 2004 | 418 | #551 |
| 2003 | 398 | #563 |
| 2002 | 321 | #616 |
| 2001 | 302 | #627 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Phoenix a popular boy name?
Phoenix ranked #329 among boys in 2025 with 1,027 babies given the name — inside the top 500: established but not ubiquitous. Ten years earlier it ranked #307.
When was the name Phoenix most popular?
Phoenix peaked in 2020, when 1,534 American boys received the name (ranked #236 that year). Since 2020 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Phoenix?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 1,753 newborn American boys was named Phoenix. It scores 61/100 on our uniqueness scale (rarity blended with momentum), which we classify as "distinctive".
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration name statistics, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect Social Security card applications; names with fewer than 5 occurrences in a state-year are suppressed by the SSA.