The namePhilip
Philip is a boy's name of Greek origin meaning "lover of horses". The name of an apostle and of kings, it is a royal classic.
- Boy's name
- Greek
- Feast day
Meaning
Philip comes from the Greek Philippos, made of philos, "friend, lover", and hippos, "horse".
Origin
Greek. Philip II of Macedon was the father of Alexander the Great. Saint Philip was one of the twelve apostles.
History
Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, husband of Queen Elizabeth II, made the name familiar in Britain. It reached the American top 60. Phil is its short form.
Did you know?
- Prince Philip was the longest serving royal consort in British history, from 1952 to 2021.
Famous people named Philip
- Saint Philip the Apostle
- Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh
- Philip Roth, writer
- Philip Glass, composer
Popularity of the name Philip
Philip in the United States
Philip was most popular in the United States in the 1950s, with 60,950 births over the decade, 18% of all recorded babies named Philip. Its rise began around 1912, and it peaked in 1953. Half of all babies named Philip in the United States were born before 1956, so it is mostly a grandparents' generation name. Over the last five years on record, its popularity has held steady at around 628 births a year.
Philip in the United Kingdom
Philip was most popular in the United Kingdom in the 2000s, with 1,892 births over the decade, 35% of all recorded babies named Philip. Half of all babies named Philip in the United Kingdom were born before 2007, so it is mostly a name of today's children and teenagers. Over the last five years on record, it has been falling: 107 births a year on average, against 131 in the five years before.
Philip in Ireland
Philip in France
Philip in Switzerland
Philip in Austria
Philip in Norway
Variants and related names
Sibling names for Philip
Names from the same generation as Philip, whose popularity in the United States has followed a similar path.
How many people are named Philip? See the counter → · What would your name be in 1950? · Name origin quiz
Compare Philip with another name
Meaning, origin and popularity of Philip side by side with the name of your choice.
Philip in our baby name lists
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Philip mean?
Philip comes from the Greek Philippos, made of philos, "friend, lover", and hippos, "horse".
What is the origin of the name Philip?
Greek. Philip II of Macedon was the father of Alexander the Great. Saint Philip was one of the twelve apostles.
Is Philip a girl's or a boy's name?
Philip is a boy's name.
How popular is the name Philip?
In 2024, Philip was the 521st most popular name for baby boys in the United States, with 586 births.
What are the variants of the name Philip?
Variants and related names of Philip include Philippe.
What are good sibling names for Philip?
Names from the same generation, with a similar popularity in the United States: Teresa, Irene, Barbara and Anne for a sister, Eugene, Dorian, Peter and Pedro for a brother.
Who are famous people named Philip?
Saint Philip the Apostle; Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh; Philip Roth, writer; Philip Glass, composer.