Pippa first name popularity, history and meaning

Find out how popular the first name Pippa has been for the last 26 years (from 1999 to 2024) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Meaning of Pippa

Diminutive of Philippa, a feminine name derived from the Greek meaning "lover of horses".

Popularity of Pippa by gender

Based on the last 26 years of data, Pippa is exclusively a female name.

For the most recent data in 2024, there were 73 female babies and 0 male babies born with the name Pippa.

Year Male Count Female Count
2024 0 73
2023 0 70
2022 0 101
2021 0 115
2020 0 91
2019 0 107
2018 0 96
2017 0 114
2016 0 101
2015 0 94
2014 0 120
2013 0 80
2012 0 107
2011 0 70
2010 0 16
2009 0 21
2008 0 18
2007 0 14
2006 0 25
2005 0 10
2004 0 8
2003 0 10
1999 0 5

The history of the first name Pippa

The name Pippa is a diminutive form of the name Philippa, which is derived from the Greek name Philipp??. Philipp?? is the feminine form of the masculine name Philippos, which means "lover of horses" or "friend of horses". The name Philippos comes from the Greek words philos, meaning "beloved" or "loving", and hippos, meaning "horse".

The name Philippa was first introduced to England after the Norman Conquest in 1066, brought by the Norman nobles who had adopted it from the French form Philippine. It quickly gained popularity among the aristocracy and royalty of medieval England.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Pippa dates back to the 13th century, when it was used as a diminutive for Philippa. In the historical records of the time, there are references to a woman named Pippa de Beaumont, who lived in the late 12th and early 13th centuries.

Throughout history, several notable women have borne the name Pippa. One of the most famous is Pippa Middleton (born 1983), the younger sister of Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge. Another well-known Pippa is Pippa Guard (born 1958), an English model and actress.

In the realm of literature, Pippa is the name of a character in Robert Browning's dramatic poem "Pippa Passes" (1841). The poem follows a young silk-winder named Pippa as she passes through the streets of Asolo, Italy, on her way to work.

Another historical figure named Pippa was Pippa Bacca (1974-2008), an Italian performance artist and activist. She gained international recognition for her participation in the "Brides on Tour" project, which aimed to raise awareness about the rights of women and minorities.

Finally, in the world of sports, Pippa Mann (born 1983) is a British racing driver who has competed in the IndyCar Series and the Indianapolis 500.

These are just a few examples of notable individuals who have borne the name Pippa throughout history, showcasing the enduring appeal and versatility of this diminutive form of Philippa.

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

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

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"Pippa first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on August 24, 2025. http://namecensus.com/first-names/pippa-meaning-and-history/.

"Pippa first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/first-names/pippa-meaning-and-history/. Accessed 24 August, 2025

Pippa first name popularity, history and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/first-names/pippa-meaning-and-history/.

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