Where does the name Phillip come from?

Phillip is a boy name of Ancient Greek origin.

Is Phillip a boy or a girl name?

Phillip is used for both. In U.S. Social Security records, about 0% of children given the name Phillip are girls and 100% are boys.

How popular is the name Phillip in 2023?

Phillip ranks #616 for boys in the U.S. Social Security Administration's 2023 dataset. Its all-time U.S. peak was 1960 with 6,076 babies.

How do you pronounce Phillip?

Phillip is pronounced FIL-ip (2 syllables).

What are common spellings of Phillip?

Phillip is also written as Philip, Phillipe, Filippo.

A name from Ancient Greek · Boy

Phillip

A spelling variant of Philip, from Greek Philippos — philos ('loving') + hippos ('horse'); 'lover of horses'. Borne by kings of Macedon (including the father of Alexander the Great) and of Spain.

Compare

Popularity over time

A 143-year arc in numbers.

310,683 U.S. births recorded from 1880–2023.

Popularity · 1880–2023

455 births in 2023

1880 1951 2023

Babies named per year Peak year Most recent

Meaning

A name that means something.

PA spelling variant of Philip, from Greek Philippos — philos ('loving') + hippos ('horse'); 'lover of horses'. Borne by kings of Macedon (including the father of Alexander the Great) and of Spain.

Variants & spellings

3 ways to spell "Phillip".

Each transliteration carries a slightly different cultural fingerprint.

Philip Most common Phillipe Filippo

Famous bearers

People who carry the name Phillip.

P
Prince Phillip (Duke of Edinburgh; surname variant Philip)
P
Phillip Seymour Hoffman (actor; variant Philip)

Quick answers

People often ask about Phillip.

What does the name Phillip mean?: Phillip means a spelling variant of Philip, from Greek Philippos — philos ('loving') + hippos ('horse'); 'lover of horses'. Borne by kings of Macedon (including the father of Alexander the Great) and of Spain.
Where does the name Phillip come from?: Phillip is a boy name of Ancient Greek origin.
Is Phillip a boy or a girl name?: Phillip is used for both. In U.S. Social Security records, about 0% of children given the name Phillip are girls and 100% are boys.
How popular is the name Phillip in 2023?: Phillip ranks #616 for boys in the U.S. Social Security Administration's 2023 dataset. Its all-time U.S. peak was 1960 with 6,076 babies.
How do you pronounce Phillip?: Phillip is pronounced FIL-ip (2 syllables).
What are common spellings of Phillip?: Phillip is also written as Philip, Phillipe, Filippo.

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About this page

Popularity counts come from the U.S. Social Security Administration's national dataset. Meanings and origins are curated from etymological sources. If you spot an error, please let us know.