Philadelphia
A feminine name of Greek origin referring to brotherly love.
Name Census estimates that about 32 living Americans carry the first name Philadelphia. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Philadelphia today is around 39 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Philadelphia births was 1984 (8 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Philadelphia. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
Key insights
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Philadelphia. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
32
~ 1 in 10,711,073 Americans
Peak year
1984
8 babies that year
Average age
39
years old
1994 SSA rank
#15,111
Tracked since 1984
Popularity
Philadelphia: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Philadelphia from the 1980s through to the 1990s, spanning 2 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1980s, with 24 total registrations. Although the numbers have come down from the 1980s peak, Philadelphia remains solidly in use and shows no sign of disappearing from maternity wards.
Babies born per year
Decades
Philadelphia by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Philadelphia during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Origin
Meaning and history of Philadelphia
Philadelphia is a unique and intriguing name with its origins rooted in Greek history and culture. The name is derived from the Greek words "philos" meaning "beloved" and "adelphos" meaning "brother," essentially signifying "brotherly love." This name was initially bestowed upon the ancient city of Philadelphia, located in modern-day Turkey, which was founded in the 2nd century BC by the king of Pergamon, Attalus II.
The city of Philadelphia was mentioned in the Book of Revelation in the Bible, where it was praised for its steadfastness and endurance. This biblical reference contributed to the name's association with Christian values and traditions.
One of the earliest recorded individuals bearing the name Philadelphia was Philadelphia Romana, a Christian martyr who lived in the 3rd century AD. She was executed during the Roman persecutions of Christians under the reign of Emperor Aurelian.
Throughout history, several notable figures have carried the name Philadelphia. One such individual was Philadelphia Hancock (1736-1801), the wife of John Hancock, a prominent American Revolutionary leader and the first governor of Massachusetts.
Another notable bearer of the name was Philadelphia Pemberton (1642-1709), an English Quaker missionary who traveled extensively in the American colonies, spreading the teachings of the Quaker faith.
In the realm of literature, Philadelphia Whittick (1834-1923) was a notable English author and playwright, known for her novels and works depicting Victorian society.
Lastly, Philadelphia Violet Remington (1892-1973) was an American aviator and one of the first women to hold a commercial pilot's license in the United States. She was an influential figure in the early days of aviation and played a significant role in promoting women's involvement in the industry.
The name Philadelphia has a rich history, imbued with symbolism and cultural significance. From its ancient Greek roots to its biblical references and notable bearers throughout the ages, this name carries a profound legacy of endurance, love, and perseverance.
People
Philadelphia + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Philadelphia as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with P
Other first names starting with P with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Philadelphia: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Philadelphia?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 32 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Philadelphia going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 10,711,073 US residents.
Is Philadelphia a common name?
We classify Philadelphia as "Very Rare". It ranks above 47.5% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 34 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Philadelphia most popular?
The single biggest year for Philadelphia was 1984, when 8 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Philadelphia is about 39 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Philadelphia a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Philadelphia in the SSA data are female. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.