Regarding the name

It is incredibly confusing that the anniversary phoenix is called '1st anniversary phoenix' when they will in fact be returning next year. Change it to something more generic like anniversary phoenix, annual phoenix, celebration phoenix, or what have you, but listing it as the first anniversary phoenix when it is not limited to the first anniversary is incredibly confusing.

Edit to add: Especially comparing it to something like the Kickstarter Krane which is very much exclusive to the kickstarter and now retired. Having a 1st Anniversary Phoenix implies on many levels that the phoenix will be limited to that event. This inconsistency just adds to the confusion imho

Regarding the description

The description is a literal quote from Tolkien's work without any crediting. I think it is unfair to use their IP without credits and it should be changed to something original instead. Perhaps the description can also be used to indicate the phoenix was introduced during the first anniversary; this would allow for easy differentiation between companions released in subsequent anniversaries, but with more room as to not make it confusing on whether it is retired or not

I just assumed they were going to make a second companion for the next anniversary - so 1st Anniversary Phoenix would be available along with 2nd Anniversary Phoenix.

If they don't make any other anniversary phoenix companions though, I 100% support this, especially for just calling them Anniversary Phoenix's!

Edit to add: Oops, I think I misunderstood your post. Not deleting my previous comment entirely as I still agree with it but it doesn't exactly make sense after reading yours! Sorry about that!

If there isn't going to be a new companion released for each anniversary, then support. If there will be, then I'd still like to have it named how it is.

@/XDragonfruitx - True, but there is also the "Kickstarter Krane".

They also need to change the description, because it's a direct quote from The Lord of the Rings, by JRR Tolkien:

All that is gold does not glitter,
Not all those who wander are lost;
The old that is strong does not wither,
Deep roots are not reached by the frost.

From the ashes a fire shall be woken,
A light from the shadows shall spring;
Renewed shall be blade that was broken,
The crownless again shall be king.

1a. I agree with XDragonfruitx that I would prefer an actual species name rather than one breaking the fourth wall like the Kickstarter Krane does.

1b. And that is also another argument; the Kickstarter Krane is retired and exclusive to the kickstarter. But the 1st anniversary phoenix is NOT retired and NOT exclusive to the 1st anniversary. This inconsistency only adds to the confusion.

2. Even IF a new companion is released for each anniversary, that doesn't take away that the naming is misleading and confusing, causing people to think they are limited (soft)retiring items and then wasting thousands of their hard-earned pebbles on something that is in fact cycling, and not retiring at all. If they want to clearly differentiate between the companion released during the first anniversary, and subsequent anniversaries, they can do so in the description of the item.

3. Fioreth, I hadn't even read the description yet, but big agree! Can't just go around using IP from another without proper crediting! Adding that to the OP

If the year of release is in the description, then full support on the name change.