Find out how popular the first name Philip has been for the last 50 years (from 1974 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Philip by gender

Based on the last 50 years of data, Philip is more commonly used as a male name, with approximately 100% of people named Philip being male.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 605 male babies and 0 female babies born with the name Philip.

The history of the first name Philip

The name Philip has its origins in the Greek language and culture, with the earliest known use dating back to ancient Greece in the 5th century BC. The name is derived from the Greek word "Philippos," which means "friend of horses" or "lover of horses." This reflects the importance of horses in Greek culture and society during that era.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Philip appears in the writings of the ancient Greek historian Herodotus, who mentions a Persian prince named Philippos. The name also appears in various ancient Greek texts, including works by the philosophers Plato and Aristotle.

In the Bible, Philip is mentioned as one of the twelve apostles of Jesus Christ. This biblical reference helped to popularize the name among early Christians and contributed to its spread throughout Europe.

One of the most famous figures in history with the name Philip was Philip II of Macedon, who ruled from 359 BC to 336 BC. He was the father of Alexander the Great and played a pivotal role in the expansion of the Macedonian Empire.

Another notable Philip was Philip the Arab, who ruled as Roman Emperor from 244 AD to 249 AD. He was born in modern-day Syria and is remembered for being the first Roman emperor to have been born outside of the Italian Peninsula.

During the Middle Ages, the name Philip remained popular throughout Europe, particularly in regions with strong Christian traditions. One of the most influential figures of this period was Philip II of Spain, who ruled from 1556 to 1598 and oversaw the Spanish Empire's golden age.

In the Renaissance era, Philip Sidney (1554-1586) was a prominent English poet, courtier, and soldier, renowned for his literary works and his patronage of the arts.

The name Philip also has a strong association with the British monarchy. Philip Mountbatten, who was born in 1921 and passed away in 2021, was the husband of Queen Elizabeth II and took on the title of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Philip was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Philip, please contact us.

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