Phillipa
A feminine name of Greek origin meaning "lover of horses".
Name Census estimates that about 79 living Americans carry the first name Phillipa. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Phillipa today is around 40 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Phillipa births was 2011 (10 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Phillipa. 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 Phillipa. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
79
~ 1 in 4,338,663 Americans
Peak year
2011
10 babies that year
Average age
40
years old
2021 SSA rank
#17,081
Tracked since 1917
Popularity
Phillipa: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Phillipa from the 1910s through to the 2020s, spanning 10 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2010s, with 31 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 2010s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Phillipa 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 Phillipa 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 Phillipa
The name Phillipa has its origins in the Late Greek language, derived from the masculine name Philippos. The name Philippos is a compound word, composed of the elements philos, meaning "lover of horses," and hippos, meaning "horse." This combination results in the meaning "lover of horses" or "horse lover."
In the Middle Ages, the name Phillipa gained popularity across Europe, particularly in England and France. It was often associated with nobility and aristocracy. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Phillipa dates back to the 12th century, when it was borne by Philippa of Toulouse, the wife of William VIII, Duke of Aquitaine.
Throughout history, several notable women have carried the name Phillipa. One of the most famous was Philippa of Hainault (1314-1369), the Queen of England as the wife of King Edward III. She played a significant role in the Hundred Years' War and was renowned for her courage and diplomacy.
Another prominent figure was Philippa Plantagenet (1355-1382), the daughter of Lionel of Antwerp and granddaughter of King Edward III. She married Edmund Mortimer, 3rd Earl of March, and their descendants eventually claimed the English throne, leading to the Wars of the Roses.
In the 16th century, Philippa Ducie (1555-1631) was a notable English noblewoman and landowner. She inherited extensive estates and played a crucial role in the social and political life of her time.
During the 17th century, Philippa Monmouth (1609-1677) was a prominent English courtier and the mistress of King Charles II. She gained influence and wealth during her relationship with the king and was a figure of some controversy.
In the 18th century, Philippa Yorke (1776-1843) was a British writer and novelist. She authored several works, including "The Reformed Spendthrift" and "The Lame Lover," which were popular in their time.
The name Phillipa has its origins rooted in Ancient Greek culture and language, and it has been associated with nobility, royalty, and influential women throughout history. While its popularity has fluctuated over the centuries, the name remains a testament to the enduring legacy of its equestrian roots and the notable women who have borne it.
People
Phillipa + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Phillipa 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
Phillipa: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Phillipa?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 79 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Phillipa 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 4,338,663 US residents.
Is Phillipa a common name?
We classify Phillipa as "Very Rare". It ranks above 61.1% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 108 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Phillipa most popular?
The single biggest year for Phillipa was 2011, when 10 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Phillipa is about 40 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Phillipa a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Phillipa 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.