Noah Boy
NOH-uh
“rest, comfort” · Hebrew
#2
Philip
BoyGreek· “lover of horses”
- Meaning
- lover of horses
- Origin
- Greek
- Pronunciation
- FIH-luhp
- Syllables
- 2
- US rank 2025
- #528
- US babies 2025
- 568
- Best rank
- #52 (1941)
- Peak year
- 1953
Meaning and origin of Philip
Philip is a Greek name that means “lover of horses”.
Philip comes from the Greek Philippos, combining philos, loving, and hippos, horse. It was the name of Philip II of Macedon, father of Alexander the Great, and in the New Testament Philip is one of the twelve apostles. The name spread through Christian Europe and was borne by kings of France and Spain, and by Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. Philip has a thoughtful, classic character that never falls out of fashion. Phil and Pip are traditional nicknames, and the form Felipe is familiar in Spanish.
Popularity over time
Philip has been given to babies in the United States since at least 1880, the first year of Social Security records. It has ranked in the top 1,000 in 146 different years. Its best national rank was #52 in 1941, and the most babies received it in 1953, when 6,279 were named Philip. In 2025, 568 babies were named Philip, and it ranked #528 nationally. Its use has been fairly steady over the past decade.
Its national rank moved from #71 in 1920, #53 in 1950, #82 in 1980, #255 in 2000, #404 in 2010, and #528 in 2025. Of the 344,036 US boys named Philip since records began, 18% were born in the 1950s, its biggest decade. The 1940s come next, with 48,735 babies. Since 2010, 10,929 more have been named Philip.
Other boys' names that peaked around the same time include Stanley, Danny, Jerome, Gordon, and Dwight.
Where it is most popular (2025)
In 2025, Philip ranked highest in Massachusetts, Indiana, and New York.
| State | Rank there | Babies |
|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts | #343 | 16 |
| Indiana | #362 | 21 |
| New York | #371 | 48 |
| Ohio | #375 | 30 |
| Pennsylvania | #376 | 29 |
Gender, sound and spelling
In the US it is used almost only for boys.
Philip is usually pronounced FIH-luhp, with two syllables. It has six letters, starts with P and ends in “-ip”.
Middle names for Philip
A few middle names that flow with Philip: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Philip
Similar names
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FIH-luhp
“lover of horses” · Greek
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Andre Boy
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“manly, brave” · French
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Joseph Boy
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“he will add” · Hebrew
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“beloved” · Hebrew
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Thomas Boy
TAH-muhs
“twin” · Aramaic
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Nicholas Boy
NIH-kuh-luhs
“victory of the people” · Greek
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Nicolas Boy
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Andres Boy
ahn-DREHS
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Simon Boy
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Lists that include Philip
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Philip mean?
Philip is a Greek name that means “lover of horses”.
What is the origin of the name Philip?
Philip has Greek roots. Philip comes from the Greek Philippos, combining philos, loving, and hippos, horse.
Is Philip a popular name?
Yes. Philip ranked #528 in the US in 2025, which makes it in the top 1,000.
Is Philip a boy or girl name?
Philip is mainly a boy's name. In the US it is used almost only for boys.
How do you pronounce Philip?
Philip is usually pronounced FIH-luhp. Stressed syllables are in capital letters.
Popularity figures come from US Social Security card applications (names given to at least five babies in a year, 1880 to 2025). How we source names and meanings