At a Glance: Name: Phosphorus – Meaning: bearer of light (an epithet for the morning star, Venus) – Origin: Greek (Latinized) – Pronunciation: FOS-fər-əs
Phosphorus is a Greek (Latinized) name meaning “bearer of light (an epithet for the morning star, Venus)”. It appears in our list of 200+ Baby Names That Mean Star — Celestial Picks for the Next Generation.
Meaning & Origin of Phosphorus
Meaning: Bearer of light (an epithet for the morning star, Venus).
Origin: Greek (Latinized).
A common claim: Sometimes assumed to be named after the glowing chemical element phosphorus. Actually: It's the reverse: the element (identified 1669, noted for glowing in the dark) was named after this older Greek term for the light-bringing morning star, not the other way around.
Source: Wiktionary.
How to Pronounce Phosphorus
Phonetic: FOS-fər-əs IPA: /ˈfɒsfərəs/
Popularity of Phosphorus
Phosphorus doesn’t appear in U.S. Social Security birth records, which include every name given to at least five babies in a year — so it’s rare in the U.S.
Lists That Include Phosphorus
Similar Names
Sirius · Hesper · Eosphorus · Hesperus · Polaris · Taygete
