Philip
Philip is a boy's name of Greek origin.
Meaning
Lover of horses.
Origin and history
Philip is a classic masculine name derived from the Greek name Philippos, meaning 'lover of horses'. It has deep historical roots, appearing in ancient Macedonia, Christian scripture, and European royalty. In the United States, it has been a consistently recognized staple, ranking in the top 100 male names overall since 1880.
Popularity in the United States
344,036 babies in the United States have been named Philip since 1880. It ranks #100 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #486.
States where it is most popular
- NY (15 %)
- CA (7.6 %)
- PA (7.1 %)
- IL (5.6 %)
- MA (5.5 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 1,741 |
| 1890-1900 | 2,147 |
| 1900-1910 | 2,817 |
| 1910-1920 | 18,166 |
| 1920-1930 | 27,268 |
| 1930-1940 | 28,847 |
| 1940-1950 | 48,735 |
| 1950-1960 | 60,853 |
| 1960-1970 | 44,780 |
| 1970-1980 | 31,367 |
| 1980-1990 | 35,733 |
| 1990-2000 | 20,460 |
| 2000-2010 | 10,193 |
| 2010-2019 | 7,216 |
| 2020-2029 | 3,713 |
Famous people named Philip
- Philip Seymour Hoffman: Actor
- Philip K. Dick: Author, Novelist
- Philip Glass: Composer
Nicknames
Phil, Pip, Philie
Fun facts
- The name was borne by Philip II of Macedon, the father of Alexander the Great.
- Philip has been a popular royal name across Europe for centuries, notably used by kings of France, Spain, and Portugal.