Phineas
Phineas is a boys' name of Hebrew origin meaning “Oracle, serpent's mouth, or Nubian.”
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how do you pronounce Phineas?
FIN-ee-us
where does the name Phineas come from?
An anglicized form of Phinehas, a priest in the Hebrew Bible, probably from an Egyptian name meaning the Nubian.
A biblical name borne by the grandson of Aaron in the Old Testament, with uncertain etymology possibly related to the Egyptian or Hebrew word for serpent or oracle. P.T. Barnum's first name Phineas helped keep it in public consciousness.
how popular is this name?
Phineas has appeared in the US top 1,000 in 2 years since 1880, and fell outside it for 10. It peaked at #909 in 1880, and ranked #963 in 1891.
See the milestone years
| Year | Rank |
|---|---|
| 1891 | #963 |
| 1880 | #909 |
Source: SSA National Baby Names Dataset (through 2025). Years absent from the table are years Phineas fell outside the top 1,000.
the history of Phineas
The showman P. T. Barnum was Phineas Taylor Barnum.
who are famous people named Phineas?
- Phineas T. Barnum
- Phineas Fletcher
what are the nicknames and variants of Phineas?
Nicknames
Variants around the world
what names are similar to Phineas?
what names go well with Phineas?
Sibling names that share Phineas's rhythm and register without echoing it too closely.
quick answers about Phineas
What does the name Phineas mean?
Phineas means “Oracle, serpent's mouth, or Nubian”.
What is the origin of the name Phineas?
Phineas comes from the Hebrew naming tradition. Related forms include Phinehas.
How popular is the name Phineas?
Phineas ranked #963 in the US in 1891, according to Social Security data.
Is Phineas a boy or girl name?
Phineas is primarily a boys' name.
How do you pronounce Phineas?
Phineas is pronounced FIN-ee-us, with 3 syllables.
Last updated · Curated by HushName editorial
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