Phi: Name Popularity, History & Rankings (1880

By decade. Change compares yearly averages, so the current partial decade is on equal footing. Best rank is the name's best yearly rank within the decade.

Decade	Girls	Boys	Total	Per year	Change	Best rank
1880s	–	–	–	–	–	–
1890s	–	–	–	–	–	–
1900s	–	–	–	–	–	–
1910s	–	–	–	–	–	–
1920s	–	–	–	–	–	–
1930s	–	–	–	–	–	–
1940s	–	–	–	–	–	–
1950s	–	–	–	–	–	–
1960s	–	–	–	–	–	–
1970s	–	20	20	2	–	#4,006
1980s	26	164	190	19	+850%	#2,408
1990s	14	171	185	19	-3%	#2,726
2000s	5	99	104	10	-44%	#5,801
2010s	–	20	20	2	-81%	#7,899
2020s (to 2025)	–	–	–	–	–	–

Decade

Girls

Boys

Total

Per year

Change

Best rank

1880s

–

1890s

–

1900s

–

1910s

–

1920s

–

1930s

–

1940s

–

1950s

–

1960s

–

1970s

–

#4,006

1980s

164

190

+850%

#2,408

1990s

171

185

-3%

#2,726

2000s

104

-44%

#5,801

2010s

–

-81%

#7,899

2020s (to 2025)

–

The story of Phi

Phi is not currently in use for newborns in the United States: fewer than five babies received the name in 2025. Its story lives in the historical record below.

Since 1976, 519 American babies have been named Phi, about 91% boys and 9% girls, making it a genuinely unisex name. Its peak came in 1992, when 26 newborns received the name, the signature sound of the 1990s.

The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Phi stood among all boys' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.

How old are people named Phi?

The median living Phi is about 33 years old; half are between 26 and 39. An estimated 500 people named Phi are alive in the United States today.

Estimated from births per year and Social Security period life tables; an approximation of the living age distribution, by age in years.

Phi year by year

Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.

Year	Girls	Girls rank	Boys	Boys rank
2025	–	–	–	–
2024	–	–	–	–
2023	–	–	–	–
2022	–	–	–	–
2021	–	–	–	–
2020	–	–	–	–
2019	–	–	–	–
2018	–	–	–	–
2017	–	–	–	–
2016	–	–	–	–
2015	–	–	10	#7,899
2014	–	–	–	–
2013	–	–	–	–
2012	–	–	5	#13,714
2011	–	–	–	–
2010	–	–	5	#13,754
2009	5	#19,509	9	#8,821
2008	–	–	11	#7,576
2007	–	–	8	#9,532
2006	–	–	9	#8,565
2005	–	–	10	#7,518
2004	–	–	9	#8,010
2003	–	–	13	#5,801
2002	–	–	12	#5,982
2001	–	–	8	#8,115
2000	–	–	10	#6,700
1995	–	–	8	#6,827
1990	6	#12,475	19	#3,275
1985	–	–	13	#3,552
1980	–	–	10	#4,055
1975	–	–	–	–
1970	–	–	–	–
1965	–	–	–	–
1960	–	–	–	–
1955	–	–	–	–
1950	–	–	–	–
1945	–	–	–	–
1940	–	–	–	–
1935	–	–	–	–
1930	–	–	–	–
1925	–	–	–	–
1920	–	–	–	–
1915	–	–	–	–
1910	–	–	–	–
1905	–	–	–	–
1900	–	–	–	–
1895	–	–	–	–
1890	–	–	–	–
1885	–	–	–	–
1880	–	–	–	–

Frequently asked questions

Quick answers about Phi, drawn from the same Social Security data as the charts above.

How old is the average Phi?

The median living Phi is about 33 years old. Half of all living Phis are between 26 and 39 years old.

How many people named Phi are alive today?

An estimated 500 people named Phi are alive in the United States, based on 519 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

How popular is the name Phi in 2025?

Phi did not appear in the 2025 Social Security data, which means fewer than five babies received the name that year.

How many people are named Phi?

519 babies have been named Phi in the United States since 1976, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Phi most popular?

Phi peaked in 1992, when 26 newborns received the name.

Is Phi a boy or girl name?

Phi is used for both: about 9% of babies named Phi have been girls and 91% boys.

Is the name Phi rising or falling?

Phi is declining, less popular now than a decade ago.

Phi

Phi popularity over time

The story of Phi

How old are people named Phi?

Phi year by year

Frequently asked questions

Names like Phi