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Phaedra as a Baby Name. Meaning and Origin of Phaedra

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The baby name Phaedra is a Female name , 2 syllables long and is pronounced /ˈfeɪ.drə/ (FAY-druh); /ˈfiː.drə/ (FEE-druh).

Phaedra is Greek in Origin.

Gender: Female
Syllables: 2.0
Origin: Greek
Pronunciation: /ˈfeɪ.drə/ (FAY-druh); /ˈfiː.drə/ (FEE-druh)

What is the meaning of the name Phaedra ?

The baby name Phaedra is a Female name , 2 syllables long and is pronounced /ˈfeɪ.drə/ (FAY-druh); /ˈfiː.drə/ (FEE-druh).

Phaedra is Greek in Origin.

Phaedra is the Anglicized form of the Greek name Phaidra, from phaidros meaning bright, radiant, joyful. In classical mythology she is a Cretan princess, daughter of Minos and Pasiphae, who becomes the tragic wife of Theseus and the ill-fated admirer of her stepson Hippolytus. Her story has anchored Western literature for millennia, shaping Euripides' Hippolytus, Seneca's Latin tragedy Phaedra, and Racine's celebrated 1677 drama Phèdre, keeping the name culturally visible despite its somber associations.

Variants include Phaidra (learned transliteration), Phèdre (French), Fedra (Italian, Spanish, and other Romance languages), and the rarer Anglicized Faedra. Usage in the English-speaking world remained scarce until the mid-20th century, when renewed interest in classical themes and the arts briefly boosted its profile. Today Phaedra is uncommon yet distinctive, chosen for its luminous meaning and layered mythic resonance.

Phaedra has the following similar or variant Names

Phaedra – Popularity by country

Based on birth registration data from national statistics agencies.

Country Gender Year Rank Born of
HT Girls 0 #23 1 950
CY 0 #59 2 1,632
CY Girls 0 #124 2 3,755
GR 0 #135 1 3,911
JO 0 #140 1 2,158
MT Girls 0 #153 1 3,773
Belgium Girls 2002 #198 18 412
HU Girls 0 #225 1 3,308
GR Girls 0 #241 9 6,293
Canada Girls 2022 #275 6 2,867
JM Girls 0 #276 3 7,507
SG 0 #282 1 11,010
BD Girls 0 #406 1 8,413
CR Girls 0 #573 1 11,342
SG Girls 0 #630 3 18,916
United States Girls 2024 #897 20 8,487
NL Girls 0 #932 24 5,933
BR Girls 0 #992 1 12,708
ZA Girls 0 #1,236 1 25,928
TR 0 #1,254 1 19,440

Phaedra is popular in 17 countries — most recent births per country:

United States
Canada
Flanders, Belgium
Belgium
BD

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People also ask about Phaedra

Phaedra is predominantly a girl's name.
Phaedra is a 2 syllable name, pronounced /ˈfeɪ.drə/ (FAY-druh); /ˈfiː.drə/ (FEE-druh).
Common nicknames and spelling variations include Phaidra, Phèdre, Phaedre, Faidra and Fedra.
Yes — Phaedra ranked #198 in Belgium in 2002, and appears in official birth registries across 3 countries.
Phaedra ranks highest in Belgium (#198 in 2002).
Phaedra's popularity is holding steady. It moved from #895 in 2014 to #897 in 2024 in United States.