Philmon
A masculine name of Greek origin meaning "loved" or "affectionate".
Name Census estimates that about 5 living Americans carry the first name Philmon. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Philmon today is around 33 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Philmon births was 1992 (5 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Philmon. 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 Philmon. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
5
~ 1 in 68,550,868 Americans
Peak year
1992
5 babies that year
Average age
33
years old
1992 SSA rank
#9,449
Tracked since 1992
Popularity
Philmon: popularity over time
Babies born per year
Decades
Philmon 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 Philmon during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
| Decade | Male | Female | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 5 | 0 | 5 |
Origin
Meaning and history of Philmon
The name Philmon is derived from the Greek language, with its roots tracing back to ancient times. It is a combination of the Greek words "philos," meaning "beloved" or "dear," and "monos," meaning "alone" or "single." The earliest known mention of the name can be found in ancient Greek literature, where it was occasionally used as a character's name.
One of the earliest recorded individuals with the name Philmon was a Greek playwright who lived in the 4th century BC. Unfortunately, not much is known about his life or works, as very few fragments of his plays have survived to this day. However, his name serves as a testament to the antiquity of its usage.
In the 3rd century AD, a Christian martyr named Philmon was venerated in the city of Smyrna (present-day Izmir, Turkey). According to historical accounts, he was a bishop who faced persecution and was eventually executed for his faith. His martyrdom and unwavering devotion earned him a place in the annals of early Christian history.
During the Byzantine era, a prominent scholar and theologian named Philmon lived in the 9th century AD. He was known for his extensive writings on various theological topics and his contributions to the intellectual discourse of the time. His works were widely circulated and influenced the development of Christian thought in the Eastern Roman Empire.
In the 12th century, a French nobleman named Philmon de Vercy was a notable figure in the court of King Louis VII. He served as a knight and participated in the Second Crusade, where he gained recognition for his bravery and military prowess. Historical records mention his exploits during the siege of Damascus in 1148.
Another notable figure bearing the name Philmon was an Italian Renaissance artist and architect who lived in the 15th century. Philmon di Domenico, born in Florence, was renowned for his intricate architectural designs and his contributions to the flourishing artistic movement of the time. Several of his works, including churches and palaces, can still be admired in various Italian cities.
These are just a few examples of individuals throughout history who carried the name Philmon. While its origins can be traced back to ancient Greece, the name has transcended geographical and cultural boundaries, appearing in various contexts across different eras and civilizations.
People
Philmon + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Philmon 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
Philmon: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Philmon?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 5 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Philmon 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 68,550,868 US residents.
Is Philmon a common name?
We classify Philmon as "Very Rare". It ranks above 18.2% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 5 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Philmon most popular?
The single biggest year for Philmon was 1992, when 5 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Philmon is about 33 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
What does the SSA popularity chart show?
The chart tracks births, not the number of people alive with the name today. Each point shows how many babies were given the name Philmon in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Philmon a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Philmon in the SSA data are male. 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.
Is Philmon still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Philmon in 2024, and the page above shows its latest-year rank where available. A name can be well past its peak and still remain in steady use, especially if it built up a large population over earlier decades.
Why can a name have a lot of living bearers even if it is not trendy now?
Because living-bearer counts and current baby-name popularity measure different things. A name like Philmon can build up a very large population over many decades, even if fewer parents are choosing it now than they did at its peak.
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.
Does every first name have Census demographic data?
No. The public Census first-name release only covers names that met the Bureau's publication rules, so many rarer names in the SSA files do not have a published Census demographic snapshot. In those cases, the page still shows the SSA trend, gender history, and state data.
How many Americans are named Philmon?
Want to know how many people have the name Philmon? HowManyOfMe.org, our sister site, puts the living-bearer count front and centre.