Interrupting my lazy inspired peaceful Friday tradition of posting a single image to instead bring you much-requested instruction.

To my surprise and supreme amusement, one of the terms I see often in the “Top Searches” section of the stats at the back end of this blog (which you can’t see) is “how to say the name phoebe.”  So, in English (sort of,) this means that people who type the above phrase into their favorite search engine could very well end up perusing the humble posts of Whole Heart Local because, yes, my name is Phoebe.

Or is it?  Therein lies the question.

Okay, some history: back in the summer of 1978 a kid, this kid, was born to two pleased parents, a perhaps less pleased older brother, and a host of grandparents, cousins, aunts, uncles, family friends, etc.  A name, a very singable name, was bestowed upon her small, chubby form that would, forever going forward, confound/ delight all with whom it came in contact.

That name, Phoebe, also purportedly graced a Greek, Christian woman of the Bible; a bird; and a late, famous singer, among others.  However, unlike the moniker for the historical figure, the bird, or the singer, my Phoebe had a strange special unusual pronunciation.  As told to me by my parents, this pronunciation is specific to Africa, more specifically, Kenya.  Oft told by me, I have yet to meet a Kenyan, or even another human, with my particular pronunciation.  (And may it remain throughout my life that I continue to avoid sharing my name!)

So, without further ado (because you’ve suffered enough), please read below for variations on how a person might pronounce my name.  Although the first is most common, all of these fall within what I consider to be an acceptable realm.

1. Phoebe = pho way bay
2. Phoebe = phoe ay bay
3. Phoebe = phwev ay
4. Phoebe = phwebay

Below are pronunciations that are NOT my name:

1. Phoebe = fee bee
2. Phoebe = pho ee bee
3. Phoebe = pho boy (a special favorite of mine, hi Cameron!)
4. Phoebe = far away baby (I kid you not)