The first name Philip
A boy’s name from Greek meaning “fond of horses”, “to love”, “horse”.
Pronounced /ˈfɪlɪp/ 2 syllables Male Also a surname
Meaning and origin
Greek origin
Philip means “fond of horses”, “to love”, “horse” in Greek.
From Middle English Philip, ultimately from Ancient Greek Φίλιππος (Phílippos), name of ancient kings of Macedonia, from φίλιππος (phílippos, “fond of horses”), from φιλέω (philéō, “to love”) + ἵππος (híppos, “horse”).
More names that mean love.
From Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Popularity
Babies registered in England and Wales, 1996–2025
In 2025, 71 boys were named Philip, making it the 549th most popular boys’ name. It peaked in 1996, with 481 births (#103).
Office for National Statistics; years with fewer than three births are not published and show as zero. Compare Philip with other names.
Popularity in the United States
Babies named Philip at birth, 1880–2025
In 2025, 568 boys born in the United States were named Philip, the 528th most popular boys’ name that year. It was used most in 1953, when 6,279 were.
US Social Security Administration, from applications for a Social Security card. A name is only published for a year when at least five babies were given it, so quieter years show as zero.
Philip in other languages
Equivalent forms of the name, from Wiktionary
Spelled Philip in Welsh too.
Nicknames and spellings
Famous people named Philip
386 on Wikidata, most written-about first
- Prince Philip, Duke of EdinburghConsort of Elizabeth II from 1952 to 2021 (1921-2021)
- Philip K. DickAmerican science fiction author (1928–1982)
- Philip Seymour HoffmanAmerican actor (1967–2014)
- Philip RothAmerican novelist (1933–2018)
- Philip PullmanEnglish author (born 1946)
- Philip W. AndersonAmerican physicist (1923-2020)
- Philip JohnsonAmerican architect (1906–2005)
- Philip GlassAmerican composer (born 1937)
- Philip ReeveEnglish children's writer and illustrator, born 1966
- Philip SidneyEnglish poet, courtier, diplomat (1554-1586)
- Philip Noel-Baker, Baron Noel-BakerBritish athlete, politician, Cabinet minister, life peer and Nobel Peace Prize winner (188
- Philip Showalter HenchAmerican physician (1896-1965)
More Greek boys’ names
Questions
- What does the name Philip mean?
- Philip means “fond of horses”, “to love”, “horse” in Greek.
- What is the origin of the name Philip?
- From Middle English Philip, ultimately from Ancient Greek Φίλιππος (Phílippos), name of ancient kings of Macedonia, from φίλιππος (phílippos, “fond of horses”), from φιλέω (philéō, “to love”) + ἵππος (híppos, “horse”).
- How popular is the name Philip?
- In 2025, 71 boys born in England and Wales were named Philip, ranking 549th. Its peak was 1996, with 481 births.
- What are nicknames for Philip?
- Common nicknames for Philip include Phil.
- Is Philip a boy's or a girl's name?
- Mostly a boy's name: 100% of the 345,173 US babies named Philip since 1880 were boys.
- When was Philip most popular?
- 1953 in the United States, when 6,279 babies were named Philip, its highest rank at 61st.
- How do you pronounce Philip?
- Philip is /ˈfɪlɪp/, 2 syllables.
- What are other spellings of Philip?
- Phillip, Filipp and Phillipp.
- Is Philip also a surname?
- Yes. Philip is used as a surname as well as a first name; its surname page has the origin and how many people carry it.