Fun Facts About the Name Philip
- An all-time favorite: U.S. records show 344,026 boys named Philip from 1880 through 2025.
- A favorite of earlier generations: Philip appeared in the U.S. top 100 in 2 separate runs, totaling 108 years. Its last run lasted 16 consecutive years, from 1973 through 1988.
- More than 345 thousand babies named Philip: U.S. records list 345,163 babies given the name Philip from 1880 through 2025. Even 1,137 girls received the name Philip - about 1 girl for every 303 boys.
What Does the Name Philip Mean?
Philip is the English form of the Greek name Philippos, meaning "lover of horses" or "horse-loving." It is built from Greek philos, "loving," "dear," or "friend," and hippos, "horse." The same hippos appears in hippodrome, a horse-racing course, and in hippopotamus, literally "river horse."
The literal sense is a compound meaning, not a statement about a modern bearer's interests or personality. Greek names built from two common words often had this kind of descriptive force, and Philippos was one such name.
Philip Name History & Origins
The name is ancient Greek. Its best-known early bearer was Philip II of Macedon, the fourth-century B.C. king and father of Alexander the Great. He founded the city of Philippi, which later became a Christian community addressed in the New Testament letter to the Philippians. In the New Testament, the name also belongs to Philip the Apostle, one of the Twelve, and to Philip the Evangelist, one of the seven men chosen to serve the early church in Acts.
From Greek Philippos came Latin Philippus. In Western Europe, the name took local forms such as French Philippe, Spanish Felipe, Italian Filippo, German Philipp, and English Philip. In France, it was borne by a sequence of kings, including Philip I, Philip II Augustus, Philip III, Philip IV, Philip V, and Philip VI. In Spain, King Philip II was a sixteenth-century Habsburg monarch. In England, the name was used in the Middle Ages and later in the royal family through Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, consort of Queen Elizabeth II.
In modern literature, Philip is the given name of Philip Marlowe, the detective created by Raymond Chandler, and of Philip Pirrip, called Pip, in Charles Dickens's Great Expectations. These literary uses are much later than the name's Greek and biblical history.
How Popular is the Name Philip?
Philip ranked among the top 100 U.S. names from 1880 through 1971, then returned in 1973 and remained through 1988.
U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | #15,227 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1994 | #11,439 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1992 | #14,898 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1991 | #8,422 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 1990 | #8,337 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 1989 | #5,766 | 15 | 0.0008% |
| 1988 | #4,273 | 21 | 0.0012% |
| 1987 | #3,945 | 22 | 0.0013% |
| 1986 | #3,521 | 25 | 0.0015% |
| 1985 | #2,687 | 36 | 0.0021% |
| 1984 | #4,120 | 19 | 0.0011% |
| 1983 | #4,066 | 19 | 0.0011% |
| 1982 | #3,392 | 25 | 0.0015% |
| 1981 | #2,966 | 30 | 0.0018% |
| 1980 | #3,953 | 20 | 0.0012% |
| 1979 | #3,634 | 22 | 0.0014% |
| 1978 | #3,878 | 19 | 0.0012% |
| 1977 | #4,371 | 16 | 0.0010% |
| 1976 | #3,497 | 20 | 0.0014% |
| 1975 | #3,482 | 20 | 0.0014% |
| 1974 | #3,655 | 18 | 0.0012% |
| 1973 | #4,112 | 15 | 0.0010% |
| 1972 | #5,351 | 10 | 0.0007% |
| 1971 | #3,898 | 16 | 0.0010% |
| 1970 | #3,538 | 18 | 0.0010% |
| 1969 | #4,113 | 13 | 0.0008% |
| 1968 | #2,944 | 20 | 0.0012% |
| 1967 | #3,292 | 16 | 0.0010% |
| 1966 | #3,891 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 1965 | #4,432 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 1964 | #3,834 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 1963 | #3,152 | 17 | 0.0009% |
| 1962 | #4,468 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 1961 | #2,925 | 19 | 0.0009% |
| 1960 | #4,382 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 1959 | #2,841 | 18 | 0.0009% |
| 1958 | #4,129 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 1957 | #3,005 | 16 | 0.0008% |
| 1955 | #3,525 | 12 | 0.0006% |
| 1954 | #6,408 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1953 | #4,159 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1952 | #4,044 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1951 | #4,290 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1950 | #3,188 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 1949 | #2,492 | 17 | 0.0010% |
| 1948 | #3,095 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 1947 | #3,940 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1946 | #2,712 | 14 | 0.0009% |
| 1945 | #2,570 | 13 | 0.0010% |
| 1943 | #2,531 | 14 | 0.0010% |
| 1942 | #2,771 | 12 | 0.0009% |
| 1941 | #3,192 | 9 | 0.0007% |
| 1940 | #3,772 | 7 | 0.0006% |
| 1939 | #2,379 | 13 | 0.0012% |
| 1938 | #2,888 | 10 | 0.0009% |
| 1937 | #2,169 | 15 | 0.0014% |
| 1936 | #2,127 | 15 | 0.0014% |
| 1935 | #4,760 | 5 | 0.0005% |
| 1934 | #4,822 | 5 | 0.0005% |
| 1933 | #2,374 | 13 | 0.0013% |
| 1932 | #2,215 | 15 | 0.0014% |
| 1931 | #2,935 | 10 | 0.0009% |
| 1930 | #1,920 | 19 | 0.0017% |
| 1929 | #2,083 | 17 | 0.0015% |
| 1928 | #2,008 | 19 | 0.0016% |
| 1927 | #1,714 | 25 | 0.0021% |
| 1926 | #2,059 | 19 | 0.0016% |
| 1925 | #3,310 | 10 | 0.0008% |
| 1924 | #2,939 | 12 | 0.0010% |
| 1923 | #2,245 | 17 | 0.0014% |
| 1922 | #2,459 | 15 | 0.0012% |
| 1921 | #3,113 | 11 | 0.0009% |
| 1920 | #2,700 | 13 | 0.0011% |
| 1919 | #4,695 | 6 | 0.0005% |
| 1918 | #2,642 | 13 | 0.0011% |
| 1917 | #3,636 | 8 | 0.0007% |
| 1916 | #3,849 | 7 | 0.0007% |
| 1915 | #3,082 | 9 | 0.0009% |
| 1913 | #2,498 | 8 | 0.0013% |
| 1910 | #2,097 | 7 | 0.0018% |
| 1909 | #2,169 | 6 | 0.0017% |
| 1896 | #1,548 | 6 | 0.0025% |
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #528 | 568 | 0.0333% |
| 2024 | #521 | 586 | 0.0342% |
| 2023 | #499 | 605 | 0.0354% |
| 2022 | #493 | 618 | 0.0354% |
| 2021 | #452 | 675 | 0.0386% |
| 2020 | #452 | 658 | 0.0381% |
| 2019 | #439 | 696 | 0.0388% |
| 2018 | #437 | 693 | 0.0382% |
| 2017 | #426 | 729 | 0.0394% |
| 2016 | #435 | 712 | 0.0375% |
| 2015 | #433 | 706 | 0.0368% |
| 2014 | #389 | 799 | 0.0416% |
| 2013 | #387 | 769 | 0.0407% |
| 2012 | #408 | 715 | 0.0377% |
| 2011 | #407 | 696 | 0.0367% |
| 2010 | #404 | 699 | 0.0364% |
| 2009 | #394 | 765 | 0.0386% |
| 2008 | #377 | 817 | 0.0401% |
| 2007 | #359 | 881 | 0.0425% |
| 2006 | #341 | 909 | 0.0442% |
| 2005 | #325 | 993 | 0.0497% |
| 2004 | #307 | 1,019 | 0.0513% |
| 2003 | #289 | 1,075 | 0.0544% |
| 2002 | #263 | 1,201 | 0.0619% |
| 2001 | #268 | 1,221 | 0.0628% |
| 2000 | #255 | 1,312 | 0.0668% |
| 1999 | #240 | 1,326 | 0.0691% |
| 1998 | #214 | 1,498 | 0.0784% |
| 1997 | #195 | 1,661 | 0.0881% |
| 1996 | #185 | 1,725 | 0.0911% |
| 1995 | #180 | 1,757 | 0.0923% |
| 1994 | #168 | 1,896 | 0.0981% |
| 1993 | #147 | 2,270 | 0.1157% |
| 1992 | #138 | 2,434 | 0.1219% |
| 1991 | #120 | 2,749 | 0.1361% |
| 1990 | #111 | 3,142 | 0.1530% |
| 1989 | #101 | 3,326 | 0.1662% |
| 1988 | #94 | 3,373 | 0.1762% |
| 1987 | #84 | 3,839 | 0.2056% |
| 1986 | #86 | 3,665 | 0.1990% |
| 1985 | #84 | 3,736 | 0.2021% |
| 1984 | #81 | 3,518 | 0.1949% |
| 1983 | #82 | 3,489 | 0.1946% |
| 1982 | #79 | 3,643 | 0.2008% |
| 1981 | #84 | 3,581 | 0.1999% |
| 1980 | #82 | 3,562 | 0.1997% |
| 1979 | #83 | 3,460 | 0.2010% |
| 1978 | #84 | 3,298 | 0.2009% |
| 1977 | #90 | 3,092 | 0.1882% |
| 1976 | #89 | 2,943 | 0.1876% |
| 1975 | #85 | 3,010 | 0.1928% |
| 1974 | #86 | 2,969 | 0.1888% |
| 1973 | #91 | 2,998 | 0.1923% |
| 1972 | #104 | 2,778 | 0.1713% |
| 1971 | #94 | 3,302 | 0.1867% |
| 1970 | #92 | 3,521 | 0.1895% |
| 1969 | #86 | 3,540 | 0.1980% |
| 1968 | #82 | 3,622 | 0.2084% |
| 1967 | #82 | 3,785 | 0.2170% |
| 1966 | #86 | 3,954 | 0.2217% |
| 1965 | #87 | 4,279 | 0.2300% |
| 1964 | #76 | 4,975 | 0.2497% |
| 1963 | #83 | 4,758 | 0.2343% |
| 1962 | #81 | 5,070 | 0.2451% |
| 1961 | #79 | 5,287 | 0.2489% |
| 1960 | #76 | 5,508 | 0.2584% |
| 1959 | #68 | 5,862 | 0.2746% |
| 1958 | #67 | 5,831 | 0.2747% |
| 1957 | #68 | 6,012 | 0.2787% |
| 1956 | #64 | 6,105 | 0.2886% |
| 1955 | #62 | 6,162 | 0.2992% |
| 1954 | #62 | 6,279 | 0.3080% |
| 1953 | #61 | 6,279 | 0.3184% |
| 1952 | #60 | 6,154 | 0.3166% |
| 1951 | #55 | 6,097 | 0.3238% |
| 1950 | #53 | 6,070 | 0.3390% |
| 1949 | #55 | 6,224 | 0.3509% |
| 1948 | #54 | 6,161 | 0.3511% |
| 1947 | #57 | 6,236 | 0.3408% |
| 1946 | #61 | 5,093 | 0.3136% |
| 1945 | #58 | 4,111 | 0.3055% |
| 1944 | #60 | 3,992 | 0.2929% |
| 1943 | #57 | 4,473 | 0.3134% |
| 1942 | #54 | 4,603 | 0.3333% |
| 1941 | #52 | 4,166 | 0.3392% |
| 1940 | #60 | 3,674 | 0.3170% |
| 1939 | #66 | 3,174 | 0.2868% |
| 1938 | #64 | 3,172 | 0.2860% |
| 1937 | #62 | 3,162 | 0.2964% |
| 1936 | #63 | 3,033 | 0.2924% |
| 1935 | #65 | 3,064 | 0.2942% |
| 1934 | #69 | 2,784 | 0.2696% |
| 1933 | #70 | 2,530 | 0.2552% |
| 1932 | #70 | 2,625 | 0.2514% |
| 1931 | #71 | 2,648 | 0.2547% |
| 1930 | #75 | 2,655 | 0.2419% |
| 1929 | #76 | 2,606 | 0.2423% |
| 1928 | #73 | 2,726 | 0.2461% |
| 1927 | #75 | 2,677 | 0.2375% |
| 1926 | #70 | 2,708 | 0.2439% |
| 1925 | #75 | 2,675 | 0.2397% |
| 1924 | #71 | 2,921 | 0.2579% |
| 1923 | #70 | 2,783 | 0.2539% |
| 1922 | #70 | 2,769 | 0.2545% |
| 1921 | #72 | 2,703 | 0.2454% |
| 1920 | #71 | 2,700 | 0.2537% |
| 1919 | #71 | 2,531 | 0.2582% |
| 1918 | #71 | 2,733 | 0.2697% |
| 1917 | #66 | 2,544 | 0.2749% |
| 1916 | #70 | 2,409 | 0.2706% |
| 1915 | #69 | 2,328 | 0.2743% |
| 1914 | #68 | 1,870 | 0.2856% |
| 1913 | #69 | 1,484 | 0.2895% |
| 1912 | #69 | 1,237 | 0.2877% |
| 1911 | #69 | 612 | 0.2708% |
| 1910 | #83 | 418 | 0.2152% |
| 1909 | #78 | 395 | 0.2409% |
| 1908 | #86 | 319 | 0.2067% |
| 1907 | #76 | 356 | 0.2425% |
| 1906 | #85 | 280 | 0.2103% |
| 1905 | #96 | 234 | 0.1769% |
| 1904 | #86 | 266 | 0.2076% |
| 1903 | #85 | 250 | 0.2097% |
| 1902 | #90 | 226 | 0.1842% |
| 1901 | #84 | 232 | 0.2179% |
| 1900 | #94 | 259 | 0.1721% |
| 1899 | #84 | 223 | 0.2100% |
| 1898 | #86 | 244 | 0.1989% |
| 1897 | #89 | 200 | 0.1774% |
| 1896 | #92 | 218 | 0.1823% |
| 1895 | #92 | 211 | 0.1797% |
| 1894 | #91 | 214 | 0.1849% |
| 1893 | #91 | 208 | 0.1852% |
| 1892 | #82 | 239 | 0.1958% |
| 1891 | #80 | 198 | 0.1957% |
| 1890 | #88 | 192 | 0.1729% |
| 1889 | #95 | 183 | 0.1655% |
| 1888 | #91 | 196 | 0.1622% |
| 1887 | #95 | 161 | 0.1588% |
| 1886 | #87 | 187 | 0.1688% |
| 1885 | #89 | 163 | 0.1512% |
| 1884 | #96 | 161 | 0.1407% |
| 1883 | #85 | 166 | 0.1587% |
| 1882 | #87 | 182 | 0.1601% |
| 1881 | #83 | 156 | 0.1549% |
| 1880 | #81 | 186 | 0.1683% |
Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.
Explore Name Lists Featuring Philip
Carl appears in several baby name collections based on U.S. popularity records, naming trends, and name characteristics. Explore these lists to discover other names with similar histories, styles, or features.
Most Popular Boy Names at All Time
Past Favorite Boy Names
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How the Name Philip Shapes Your Personality and Life?
You have a power of expression, either in speaking or writing. You are in favor for studying and research. You are clever, clear-sighted and intellectual. You don't like to let others know your true feelings. You might be atheistic or agnostic. You are intuitive and might be interested in the arts, drama or science.
You are very intuitive. You have a reservoir of inspired wisdom combined with inherited analytical ability, which could reward you through expressions of spiritual leadership, business analysis, marketing, artistic visions, and scientific research. Operating on spiritual side of your individuality can bring you to the great heights, and drop you off if you neglect your spiritual identity. You are always looking for an opportunity to investigate the unknown, to use and show your mental abilities, to find the purpose and meaning of life. You want to grow wise and to understand people and things. You need privacy to replenish your energy. You have a unique way of thinking, intuitive, reflective, absorbing.
✦ Philip's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Philip's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.