Sophia Girl
soh-FEE-uh
“wisdom” · Greek
#5
Pippa
GirlEnglish, Greek· “pet form of Philippa, lover of horses”
- Meaning
- pet form of Philippa, lover of horses
- Origin
- English, Greek
- Pronunciation
- PIH-puh
- Syllables
- 2
- US rank 2025
- #1,864
- US babies 2025
- 107
- Best rank
- #1,742 (2014)
- Peak year
- 2014
Meaning and origin of Pippa
Pippa is an English and Greek name that means “pet form of Philippa, lover of horses”.
Pippa is an English pet form of Philippa, the feminine of Philip, from the Greek Philippos, lover of horses. It gained literary attention through Robert Browning's verse drama Pippa Passes, published in 1841, in which a young silk-winder wanders through an Italian town singing on her one day off. The line God's in his heaven, all's right with the world comes from her song. Pippa is said PIH-puh and has become widely used in Britain and elsewhere as a name in its own right. Related forms include Philippa and Pip, and it sits well with Poppy and Tilly.
Popularity over time
Pippa first appears in US Social Security records in 1957. It has never ranked in the national top 1,000, which keeps it genuinely uncommon. Its best national rank was #1,742 in 2014, the same year it reached its highest count of 120 babies. In 2025, 107 babies were named Pippa, and it ranked #1,864 nationally. Its use has been fairly steady over the past decade.
Its national rank moved from #7,805 in 2010 and #1,864 in 2025. Of the 1,702 US girls named Pippa since records began, 53% were born in the 2010s, its biggest decade. The 2020s come next, with 562 babies.
Other girls' names that peaked around the same time include Elli, Karmyn, Braylynn, Preslie, and Paizley.
Where it is most popular (2025)
In 2025, Pippa ranked highest in Utah, Indiana, and Pennsylvania.
| State | Rank there | Babies |
|---|---|---|
| Utah | #809 | 5 |
| Indiana | #1167 | 5 |
| Pennsylvania | #1357 | 6 |
| Ohio | #1400 | 6 |
| Texas | #1766 | 13 |
Gender, sound and spelling
In the US it is used almost only for girls.
Pippa is usually pronounced PIH-puh, with two syllables. It has five letters, starts with P and ends in “-pa”.
Middle names for Pippa
A few middle names that flow with Pippa: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Pippa
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Lists that include Pippa
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Pippa mean?
Pippa is an English and Greek name that means “pet form of Philippa, lover of horses”.
What is the origin of the name Pippa?
Pippa has English and Greek roots. Pippa is an English pet form of Philippa, the feminine of Philip, from the Greek Philippos, lover of horses.
Is Pippa a popular name?
Not especially. Pippa ranked #1,864 in the US in 2025, which puts it outside the top 1,000.
Is Pippa a boy or girl name?
Pippa is mainly a girl's name. In the US it is used almost only for girls.
How do you pronounce Pippa?
Pippa is usually pronounced PIH-puh. 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