Fun Facts About the Name Phillip
- Decades of popularity: Phillip stayed in the U.S. top 100 for 55 consecutive years, from 1937 through 1991.
- More than 312 thousand babies named Phillip: U.S. records list 312,875 babies given the name Phillip from 1880 through 2025. Even 1,330 girls received the name Phillip - about 1 girl for every 234 boys.
What Does the Name Phillip Mean?
Phillip is an English spelling of the name Philip, which comes from the Greek Philippos (Φίλιππος), meaning "lover of horses." The Greek name is a compound of philos (φίλος), "dear, beloved, loving," and hippos (ἵππος), "horse."
The elements are well established: hippos clearly means "horse," and philos is related to philein, "to love." The literal sense of the compound is "fond of horses" or "loving horses," which is customarily rendered as "lover of horses." The spelling Phillip does not change the meaning; it is an alternative English form of the same Greek name.
Phillip Name History & Origins
The name appears in Greek as Philippos and was borne by several kings of Macedon, most famously Philip II, who ruled in the fourth century BC and was the father of Alexander the Great. From Greek it passed into Latin as Philippus, the form used in the Latin New Testament, where Philip is named as one of the twelve apostles and also appears as a deacon and evangelist. Those biblical figures helped carry the name into Christian communities across Europe.
In French the name became Philippe, a form borne by a line of French kings, and from French and Latin it entered English as Philip. The spelling Phillip with a doubled l is an English variant that has coexisted with the single-l form for centuries; Philip is the more common spelling overall, while Phillip is widely used in the United States. The short form Phil and the feminine form Philippa come from the same name.
How Popular is the Name Phillip?
Phillip remained among the top 100 boy names in the U.S. from 1937 to 1991. Its highest annual birth count was in 1960, and people born that year turn 66 in 2026.
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 | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | #18,490 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2001 | #17,273 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1997 | #13,294 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1996 | #10,281 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 1995 | #15,122 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1994 | #11,440 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1993 | #8,531 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 1992 | #10,204 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1991 | #11,160 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1990 | #6,755 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 1989 | #3,862 | 26 | 0.0014% |
| 1988 | #3,660 | 26 | 0.0015% |
| 1987 | #3,389 | 27 | 0.0016% |
| 1986 | #2,891 | 33 | 0.0019% |
| 1985 | #2,531 | 39 | 0.0023% |
| 1984 | #3,045 | 29 | 0.0017% |
| 1983 | #2,503 | 37 | 0.0022% |
| 1982 | #2,880 | 32 | 0.0019% |
| 1981 | #2,705 | 34 | 0.0020% |
| 1980 | #2,638 | 36 | 0.0022% |
| 1979 | #2,779 | 32 | 0.0020% |
| 1978 | #2,418 | 37 | 0.0024% |
| 1977 | #3,241 | 24 | 0.0016% |
| 1976 | #3,069 | 24 | 0.0016% |
| 1975 | #2,937 | 25 | 0.0017% |
| 1974 | #2,595 | 29 | 0.0020% |
| 1973 | #2,889 | 24 | 0.0016% |
| 1972 | #3,030 | 22 | 0.0014% |
| 1971 | #2,852 | 25 | 0.0015% |
| 1970 | #2,228 | 36 | 0.0021% |
| 1969 | #2,751 | 24 | 0.0014% |
| 1968 | #3,134 | 18 | 0.0011% |
| 1967 | #2,686 | 22 | 0.0013% |
| 1966 | #2,236 | 29 | 0.0017% |
| 1965 | #3,227 | 16 | 0.0009% |
| 1964 | #3,075 | 18 | 0.0009% |
| 1963 | #2,202 | 30 | 0.0016% |
| 1962 | #2,298 | 28 | 0.0014% |
| 1961 | #2,659 | 22 | 0.0011% |
| 1960 | #2,183 | 29 | 0.0014% |
| 1959 | #2,381 | 24 | 0.0012% |
| 1958 | #2,559 | 21 | 0.0010% |
| 1957 | #2,150 | 27 | 0.0013% |
| 1956 | #2,304 | 24 | 0.0012% |
| 1955 | #2,933 | 16 | 0.0008% |
| 1954 | #2,866 | 16 | 0.0008% |
| 1953 | #3,896 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 1952 | #3,341 | 12 | 0.0006% |
| 1951 | #2,897 | 14 | 0.0008% |
| 1950 | #1,990 | 24 | 0.0014% |
| 1949 | #2,493 | 17 | 0.0010% |
| 1948 | #4,130 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 1947 | #3,401 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1946 | #2,845 | 13 | 0.0008% |
| 1944 | #3,620 | 8 | 0.0006% |
| 1943 | #3,747 | 8 | 0.0006% |
| 1942 | #2,635 | 13 | 0.0010% |
| 1941 | #3,493 | 8 | 0.0007% |
| 1939 | #3,714 | 7 | 0.0006% |
| 1938 | #3,130 | 9 | 0.0008% |
| 1937 | #3,722 | 7 | 0.0007% |
| 1935 | #3,678 | 7 | 0.0007% |
| 1933 | #4,125 | 6 | 0.0006% |
| 1932 | #2,466 | 13 | 0.0012% |
| 1931 | #2,936 | 10 | 0.0009% |
| 1930 | #3,273 | 9 | 0.0008% |
| 1929 | #3,097 | 10 | 0.0009% |
| 1927 | #2,322 | 16 | 0.0013% |
| 1926 | #3,491 | 9 | 0.0008% |
| 1925 | #2,903 | 12 | 0.0010% |
| 1924 | #4,922 | 6 | 0.0005% |
| 1923 | #4,856 | 6 | 0.0005% |
| 1922 | #5,627 | 5 | 0.0004% |
| 1921 | #4,973 | 6 | 0.0005% |
| 1919 | #4,696 | 6 | 0.0005% |
| 1918 | #5,421 | 5 | 0.0004% |
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #651 | 425 | 0.0249% |
| 2024 | #626 | 450 | 0.0262% |
| 2023 | #620 | 452 | 0.0265% |
| 2022 | #573 | 514 | 0.0295% |
| 2021 | #524 | 559 | 0.0320% |
| 2020 | #520 | 552 | 0.0320% |
| 2019 | #504 | 568 | 0.0317% |
| 2018 | #449 | 666 | 0.0367% |
| 2017 | #427 | 727 | 0.0393% |
| 2016 | #437 | 707 | 0.0373% |
| 2015 | #409 | 762 | 0.0398% |
| 2014 | #390 | 797 | 0.0415% |
| 2013 | #364 | 870 | 0.0460% |
| 2012 | #350 | 884 | 0.0466% |
| 2011 | #378 | 779 | 0.0410% |
| 2010 | #355 | 864 | 0.0450% |
| 2009 | #340 | 927 | 0.0467% |
| 2008 | #304 | 1,098 | 0.0538% |
| 2007 | #292 | 1,175 | 0.0566% |
| 2006 | #286 | 1,220 | 0.0594% |
| 2005 | #268 | 1,233 | 0.0617% |
| 2004 | #247 | 1,325 | 0.0668% |
| 2003 | #233 | 1,455 | 0.0737% |
| 2002 | #226 | 1,553 | 0.0800% |
| 2001 | #209 | 1,711 | 0.0881% |
| 2000 | #198 | 1,776 | 0.0904% |
| 1999 | #188 | 1,818 | 0.0947% |
| 1998 | #178 | 1,887 | 0.0987% |
| 1997 | #165 | 2,087 | 0.1107% |
| 1996 | #150 | 2,309 | 0.1219% |
| 1995 | #137 | 2,512 | 0.1320% |
| 1994 | #131 | 2,675 | 0.1385% |
| 1993 | #117 | 3,003 | 0.1531% |
| 1992 | #107 | 3,375 | 0.1690% |
| 1991 | #98 | 3,851 | 0.1906% |
| 1990 | #81 | 4,453 | 0.2168% |
| 1989 | #75 | 4,721 | 0.2359% |
| 1988 | #71 | 4,574 | 0.2389% |
| 1987 | #68 | 4,814 | 0.2578% |
| 1986 | #70 | 4,706 | 0.2555% |
| 1985 | #69 | 4,495 | 0.2432% |
| 1984 | #70 | 4,234 | 0.2346% |
| 1983 | #66 | 4,470 | 0.2493% |
| 1982 | #67 | 4,520 | 0.2491% |
| 1981 | #66 | 4,539 | 0.2534% |
| 1980 | #65 | 4,633 | 0.2597% |
| 1979 | #68 | 4,422 | 0.2568% |
| 1978 | #67 | 4,362 | 0.2657% |
| 1977 | #70 | 3,966 | 0.2413% |
| 1976 | #69 | 3,790 | 0.2415% |
| 1975 | #72 | 3,852 | 0.2467% |
| 1974 | #70 | 3,934 | 0.2502% |
| 1973 | #71 | 3,861 | 0.2477% |
| 1972 | #76 | 3,532 | 0.2178% |
| 1971 | #76 | 3,850 | 0.2177% |
| 1970 | #73 | 4,275 | 0.2300% |
| 1969 | #74 | 4,008 | 0.2241% |
| 1968 | #71 | 3,987 | 0.2294% |
| 1967 | #73 | 4,049 | 0.2322% |
| 1966 | #71 | 4,403 | 0.2469% |
| 1965 | #70 | 4,891 | 0.2629% |
| 1964 | #67 | 5,503 | 0.2762% |
| 1963 | #70 | 5,653 | 0.2784% |
| 1962 | #68 | 5,880 | 0.2842% |
| 1961 | #69 | 5,977 | 0.2814% |
| 1960 | #66 | 6,043 | 0.2835% |
| 1959 | #74 | 5,597 | 0.2622% |
| 1958 | #81 | 5,273 | 0.2485% |
| 1957 | #79 | 5,543 | 0.2569% |
| 1956 | #76 | 5,416 | 0.2560% |
| 1955 | #74 | 5,410 | 0.2626% |
| 1954 | #75 | 5,150 | 0.2526% |
| 1953 | #76 | 5,102 | 0.2587% |
| 1952 | #74 | 5,002 | 0.2573% |
| 1951 | #79 | 4,910 | 0.2608% |
| 1950 | #64 | 5,055 | 0.2824% |
| 1949 | #66 | 5,201 | 0.2932% |
| 1948 | #69 | 5,018 | 0.2860% |
| 1947 | #74 | 4,789 | 0.2618% |
| 1946 | #83 | 3,775 | 0.2324% |
| 1945 | #85 | 3,081 | 0.2289% |
| 1944 | #83 | 3,002 | 0.2203% |
| 1943 | #81 | 3,251 | 0.2278% |
| 1942 | #77 | 3,373 | 0.2442% |
| 1941 | #77 | 2,870 | 0.2337% |
| 1940 | #79 | 2,628 | 0.2267% |
| 1939 | #92 | 2,175 | 0.1965% |
| 1938 | #95 | 2,153 | 0.1941% |
| 1937 | #98 | 2,005 | 0.1880% |
| 1936 | #102 | 1,847 | 0.1781% |
| 1935 | #107 | 1,783 | 0.1712% |
| 1934 | #113 | 1,577 | 0.1527% |
| 1933 | #125 | 1,328 | 0.1339% |
| 1932 | #134 | 1,314 | 0.1258% |
| 1931 | #141 | 1,176 | 0.1131% |
| 1930 | #144 | 1,175 | 0.1071% |
| 1929 | #151 | 1,027 | 0.0955% |
| 1928 | #149 | 1,077 | 0.0972% |
| 1927 | #152 | 1,041 | 0.0924% |
| 1926 | #154 | 1,020 | 0.0919% |
| 1925 | #160 | 942 | 0.0844% |
| 1924 | #166 | 900 | 0.0795% |
| 1923 | #170 | 844 | 0.0770% |
| 1922 | #164 | 920 | 0.0845% |
| 1921 | #162 | 914 | 0.0830% |
| 1920 | #164 | 840 | 0.0789% |
| 1919 | #177 | 741 | 0.0756% |
| 1918 | #180 | 730 | 0.0720% |
| 1917 | #173 | 722 | 0.0780% |
| 1916 | #166 | 723 | 0.0812% |
| 1915 | #180 | 628 | 0.0740% |
| 1914 | #165 | 537 | 0.0820% |
| 1913 | #185 | 369 | 0.0720% |
| 1912 | #189 | 306 | 0.0712% |
| 1911 | #160 | 212 | 0.0938% |
| 1910 | #174 | 167 | 0.0860% |
| 1909 | #171 | 146 | 0.0890% |
| 1908 | #174 | 131 | 0.0849% |
| 1907 | #176 | 124 | 0.0845% |
| 1906 | #163 | 122 | 0.0916% |
| 1905 | #159 | 127 | 0.0960% |
| 1904 | #152 | 127 | 0.0991% |
| 1903 | #181 | 92 | 0.0772% |
| 1902 | #191 | 87 | 0.0709% |
| 1901 | #189 | 78 | 0.0733% |
| 1900 | #166 | 127 | 0.0844% |
| 1899 | #167 | 88 | 0.0829% |
| 1898 | #183 | 86 | 0.0701% |
| 1897 | #189 | 82 | 0.0727% |
| 1896 | #184 | 89 | 0.0744% |
| 1895 | #178 | 90 | 0.0767% |
| 1894 | #140 | 110 | 0.0950% |
| 1893 | #179 | 81 | 0.0721% |
| 1892 | #155 | 104 | 0.0852% |
| 1891 | #177 | 74 | 0.0731% |
| 1890 | #174 | 80 | 0.0721% |
| 1889 | #172 | 78 | 0.0705% |
| 1888 | #134 | 116 | 0.0960% |
| 1887 | #156 | 80 | 0.0789% |
| 1886 | #151 | 94 | 0.0849% |
| 1885 | #157 | 87 | 0.0807% |
| 1884 | #155 | 89 | 0.0778% |
| 1883 | #137 | 92 | 0.0879% |
| 1882 | #137 | 103 | 0.0906% |
| 1881 | #149 | 84 | 0.0834% |
| 1880 | #174 | 75 | 0.0679% |
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 Phillip
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.
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How the Name Phillip 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 always looking for a chance to do your own thing, to be your own person, and to have things done your own way.
✦ Phillip's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Phillip's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.