Find out how popular the first name Philo has been for the last 49 years (from 1975 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Philo by gender

Based on the last 49 years of data, Philo is exclusively a male name.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 11 male babies and 0 female babies born with the name Philo.

The history of the first name Philo

The name Philo is derived from the Greek word "philos", meaning "beloved" or "dear". It has its roots in ancient Greek culture and can be traced back to the classical period.

Philo was a common name among philosophers and scholars in ancient Greece. One of the earliest recorded examples of the name is Philo of Alexandria, a Hellenistic Jewish philosopher who lived from approximately 20 BC to 50 AD. He was known for his attempts to harmonize Greek philosophy with Jewish Scripture.

Another notable figure named Philo was Philo of Byzantium, a Greek engineer and writer who lived in the 3rd century BC. He is credited with writing several works on mechanics and military technology, including a treatise on pneumatics.

In the Christian tradition, Philo was the name of an early bishop of Colossae, mentioned in the New Testament book of Colossians. He is believed to have lived in the 1st century AD.

During the Renaissance period, Philo was a popular name among humanist scholars and intellectuals. One such individual was Philo of Albizzi, an Italian humanist and diplomat who lived in the 15th century.

In the modern era, Philo has been used as a given name, although it is not as common as it once was. One notable bearer of the name was Philo T. Farnsworth, the American inventor credited with the creation of the first fully functional electronic television system in the 1920s.

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 Philo was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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